West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI Match Summary

The final act - The second ODI at Sabina Park never got beyond the toss as persistent rain washed out the contest, leaving Sri Lanka 1-0 up heading into the series finale. While the West Indies can no longer win the series, there is still plenty at stake. Valuable ODI World Cup qualification points remain on offer, and the hosts will be desperate to avoid a home series defeat. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are chasing their first bilateral ODI series victory in the Caribbean since 2003. Weather watch - The weather was the winner in the second ODI, with only the toss possible before rain took over. Unfortunately, the forecast for the series decider is not particularly encouraging either. Both teams will be hoping the rain stays away long enough to allow a meaningful contest and a fitting conclusion to the series. West Indies seek answers - The home side continues to search for the right balance. The injury to Matthew Forde meant he was unavailable for the second ODI, and with only a day's gap between matches, his availability remains uncertain. Windies brought in Amir Jangoo to strengthen the batting, and they have now been boosted by the addition of Shimron Hetmyer to the squad. Shai Hope and the Windies think tank have an interesting decision to make regarding who makes way. Beyond personnel, the West Indies will be looking for improvement with the ball. Their inability to apply sustained pressure through the middle overs in the series opener allowed Sri Lanka to seize control, and that remains an area requiring immediate attention. Building on the opener - Sri Lanka's top order was tested early by the West Indies new-ball attack in the first ODI, but the visitors recovered well and gradually lifted the scoring rate as the innings progressed. The challenge will be similar once again, with the Caribbean quicks likely to ask plenty of questions upfront. The tourists' only change for the rain-hit second ODI was the inclusion of Eshan Malinga. Having impressed at the IPL, the 25-year-old seamer will be eager to make his mark should he get an opportunity in the decider. Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, recent first) - WI - LLLLL | SL - WLLWL. What to expect? With overcast conditions expected, seamers are likely to have a major say in the contest. Both sides possess pace attacks with enough quality to exploit any assistance on offer, making the battle with the new ball a potentially decisive phase of the affair. Let's hope for better fortunes this time around in terms of the weather. With ODI World Cup qualification points and a slice of history at stake, the series deserves a fitting conclusion and one that is decided by the players on the field rather than the rain.