Sri Lanka hoping to bounce back
Chris Dhambarage
Sri Lanka will be hoping to avoid further humiliation and prevent
England from recording a historic series victory when the two teams
clash in the crucial fourth one day international under lights at the R.
Premadasa Stadium commencing at 2.30 p.m today.
England are currently riding on a crest of wave under the captaincy
of Paul Collingwood having won back to back matches in Dambulla to take
a commanding 2-1 lead in the five match series. Sri Lanka's solitary win
in the series came when they triumphed by a huge margin of 119 runs in
the opening match of the series.
England are now just one match away from creating history as they
have not won a one day international series in the sub continent for the
last 21 years. The last time they tasted success in the sub continent
was way back in 1986 when they defeated Pakistan.
In contrast Sri Lanka will be under tremendous pressure to stay alive
in the series having succumbed to two successive defeats at the slow
Dambulla wicket. The odds are heavily against them because no team have
won a one day series after conceding a 1-2 lead.
This means that skipper Mahela Jayawardena and his team has a
daunting task not only to maintain their reputation at home but also to
level the series by winning today's encounter.
The Lankans are facing this situation mainly due to some indiscipline
batting from their top order during the last two one day games. The fact
is that their top four batsmen all have failed to deliver the goods and
as a result the middle order has been always exposed at a very early
stage of the innings.
The figures would clearly indicate this because in the second one day
international the top four batsmen contributed only 50 runs between them
and again in the third one day international their contribution was a
dismal 37 runs.
This means that during the last two one day internationals the
openers Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya along with Kumar Sangakkara
and skipper Mahela Jayawardena have contributed just 87 runs between
them.
No doubt all three matches except for the first game have been low
scoring games but England seem to have accustomed themselves well
according to the situation which has helped them to face their opponents
with more confidence during the last two one day internationals.
England who started the series as complete underdogs are now in a
position where they could consolidate and even dictate terms over their
opponents as they begin to search their maiden one day international
series victory on Sri Lankan soil.
The Lankans are likely to make at least one change for today's game
as Farveez Maharoof is a doubtful starter following a strain muscle
above his rib cage which he sustained during the third one day
international at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday.
The fast bowler who opened the attack for Sri Lanka was in some pain
while bowling and needed assistance from the physiotherapist Tommy
Simsek.
Leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi is the likely replacement for
Maharoof who is currently the most successful bowler from either side
having picked up ten wickets from the three matches. But Sri Lanka's
main concern will be their batting where only skipper Mahela Jayawardena
and Tillekeratne Dilshan have succeeded in scoring a half century each
in the series so far.
England, meanwhile, have been boosted by the news that their captain
Paul Collingwood has been passed fit to play after a precautionary scan
on his shoulder.
Collingwood did not take any part in fielding sessions yesterday but
he batted in the nets and should be fit for today's important clash.
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