Tough task for West Indies

You have to feel for West Indies. Not only have they lost both their first two matches in the Super Eights, but now they play their third game in just six days, knowing that defeat by Sri Lanka in Guyana on Sunday will probably mean the end of their World Cup hopes.

Sri Lanka have impressed many people in the competition so far and despite their defeat by South Africa, they could make life very difficult for West Indies.

Bet365 make Sri Lanka 1/2 (1.50) favourites and West Indies are 13/8 (2.62) outsiders.

Nothing is ever simple with the West Indies and rumours of rows over selection - surrounding the dropping of Jerome Taylor for Lendl Simmons - hardly bode well for a meeting with Sri Lanka, a side they have beaten only three times in their past 10 games.

If they are going to get the result they need, then the hosts will need someone other than Brian Lara to get some runs. The captain has made 195 runs to date but no one is backing him up.

Lara is 4/1 favourite to top-score again on Sunday but it might be worth investing a pound or two in Shivnarine Chanderpaul in front of his home crowd.

The left-hander has not hit top form yet but is an excellent one-day player and averages 53 in one-day internationals in his home country. At 7/2, he rates much better value than his opening partner Chris Gayle, who has been abject so far, even if he is capable of big things.

Behind them, Ramnaresh Sarwan is 9/2, Marlon Samuels 11/2, Devon Smith 7/1 and Dwayne Bravo 8/1.

As for Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara are joint favourites at 7/2, with captain Mahela Jayawardene and opener Upul Tharanga 9/2.

Chamara Silva, who looks an inventive player, is 13/2 with Marvan Atapattu 7/1 and Tillekeratne Dilshan 8/1.