England, Sri Lanka in do-or-die clash today

NEW DELHI, Oct 25 (Agencies): England, with two points from four matches in the World Cup, faces Sri Lanka in a crucial match on Thursday as both teams struggle to find their footing.
The defending champions have had a disappointing campaign marked by batting and bowling issues and currently sit in ninth place on the table, with only two points.
For England to avoid an early exit from the tournament, they need significant improvements in their batting lineup. They have struggled with their batting, with only Dawid Malan and Joe Root making significant contributions in recent matches. A win against Sri Lanka could provide the motivation they need to face upcoming matches against strong teams like India and Australia.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its short boundaries and batsman-friendly pitch, provides an ideal setting for England to make a comeback with their batting. In their previous match against Bangladesh, England posted a total of 364 for 9, indicating their potential for strong performances in favorable conditions.
While England's batting has been inconsistent, their bowling has also faced challenges. With injuries and form issues, the team is struggling to find its best combination of bowlers. The absence of key all-rounders and the loss of Reece Topley, their top wicket-taker in the tournament, due to injury has further compounded their problems.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka is also dealing with injuries and inconsistent performances. Their bowling has been leaky, and they have conceded high scores in previous matches. Despite winning against the Netherlands, they are not in great form. The match between England and Sri Lanka promises to be a closely contested battle between two teams struggling to find their best form. Both sides have had shared moments of success in the past, making it an intriguing encounter.
Meanwhile, Moeen Ali said Wednesday that "everything is a must-win now" as faltering defending champions England face a Cricket World Cup day of reckoning.
England tackle Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on Thursday knowing that a fourth defeat in five games will shatter any realistic hopes of sneaking into the quarter-finals.
"We know we've been in this position before although probably not to this degree, but we know everything is a must-win," said Moeen.
"We have to get our confidence and perform well and bat and bowl and field better than we have done so far in this tournament."
England's lone win came against equally hapless Bangladesh.
They have lost to New Zealand, suffered a shock defeat to Afghanistan and then slumped to a 229-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa, conceding their highest total in a one-day international of 399.
Injury-hit Sri Lanka have been just as underwhelming, also having just one win and three defeats.
Moeen is England vice-captain but the 36-year-old veteran was dropped after the opening defeat to New Zealand and has been sidelined.