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Lankans must stay focussed

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

All Sri Lankans were delirious with delight when midway in the game against South Africa it was known that Sri Lanka had entered the Super Sixes of the World Cup.

Now that they have made it, all other distractions must be wiped off their minds and they must stay focused on winning the World Cup.

They meet the awesome Aussies tomorrow and must not suffer any complexes, but remember that their opponents too are only human and take the field with that second to none feeling.

This World Cup has somewhat taken away the gloss without teams like South Africa, England and Pakistan. But that is how the game goes.

As for the Lankans,as we said earlier,they are not the balanced outfit that they should be sans Romesh Kaluwitharne and Upul Chandana.

The selectors plonked in five pacies hoping that the wickets would be pace responsive. But on the contrary, the Lankans have been winning serving up spin and that too helped by part timers Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya. Variety would have been added had Chandana been there.

The batting too is fragile. It has been Jayasuriya, Atapattu and De Silva who have been making runs. The indifferent form of Tillekeratne, Jayawardena, Sangakkara and Arnold must be very worrying. But with no options Jayasuriya has to stick to them.

The cry is to keep Jayawardena and Sangakkara out and give Mubarak and Gunewardena a go. That is sensible thinking. But now that we are in the Super Sixes, it is not the time to experiment. Jayawardena what he lacks in runs is compensating with his excellent fielding. A fielder of Jayawardena's calibre is indispensable. All great batsmen go through lean periods. It is no different with Jayawardena. He will come good.

The credit for Sri Lanka's entry into the Super Sixes go to Atapattu and De Silva. It was their mastery over the South African bowlers that paved the way for this success and the ousting of the hosts. When Sri Lanka lost three vital wickets, it looked a bit tricky. It was then that Atapattu and De Silva got together to stage their great act. Their stroke play was amazing and they gave the South African attack the battering they well deserved.

Had Sri Lanka lost the match and tumbled out Jayasuriya should have been lined up and given six of the best because of the nonchalant manner in which he gifted his wicket.

Also it is a shame to watch Muralitharan batting. It is obvious that coach Whatmore has not shown Muralitheran how to look a batsman, even if he is not one. Muralitheran is making a disgrace of all batting techniques.

His strokes are amusing and only bring out laughter as it did to bowler Jacques Kallis when he spreadeagled the off spinner's stumps.

Not only Kallis but everyone watching were in stitches. He must be told that enough is enough. As for the South Africans, who must be rueing their defeat and exit,the saying that there is many a slip between the cup and the lip rings true.

A calculating error saw to their demise.

 

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