Lanka-England clash in do-or-die game

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from England

It will be a no quarter asked or given game when Sri Lanka and England contest the final match in the NatWest Trophy one-day series at Old Trafford, Manchester today.

It is a must win game for both sides, and no side can afford to make mistakes. Like in boxing each side will parry and thrust, looking for the opening before delivering the knockout punch.

The Sri Lankans have it them to knockout the Brits. What they have to do is to believe in themselves, then the pieces will fall right. They must forget the debacle that was the Trent Bridge game and front up to the Brits with determination and the all important victory would be theirs.

The Lankans have so far been stunted by the cold, chilly conditions and the rain and have not been able to perform at capacity. They will be hoping for the sun on their backs to show their true prowess and play as we know they can.

The Sri Lankans who lost the Test series to England one-nil, cannot afford to gift the one-day series too to England. That would be a calamity to the game and country. It is paramount that they beat England at Old Trafford and go back home with the NatWest Trophy.

If Sri Lanka is to succeed, then it is vital that they ring the changes. It is time that they pulled out Ajantha Mendis from cold storage and fronted him up against the England batsmen.

Suraj Randiv is orthodox while Mendis is unorthodox. It is said that those who dare win. It is time that the selectors dared.

It is poor thinking to imagine that batsmen have sorted out the mystery that was Mendis and conveniently forget him. He has it him to bemuse and baffle the Brit batsmen and it is time that the selectors threw at the home batsmen. For him to succeed he must be persisted with. Another factor that has gone to stall the Lankans is the poor batting of Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan and Vice Captain Thilana Kandambi. Probably they have been waiting for the big occasion to deliver and this game could be it.

Kandambi must show more concentration and determination. He has it him to smash the England bowlers. At the moment he is in the land of uncertainty and that has gone to stall his natural stroke making game. If he can be a bit more positive, then the runs will flow. He is too good a batsman to keep failing.

The ever consistent Mahela Jayawardena too had a rare failure at Trent Bridge. Along with Kumar Sangakkara if they can fire, they could run up a formidable score and put the pressure on the England batting that can crumble under pressure.

The Sri Lankan pacemen were sadly off line and length. They either pitched short or over pitched and allowed the England openers to play their shots and enjoy a run feast as their big stand in the earlier game where they won in a canter without losing a wicket showed.

The two all rounders, Angelo Mathews and Jeevan Mendis must play that way and perform with both bat and ball. Mathews must be more aggressive when batting, because has the ability to go over the top with ease. Promoting him in the order when the power play is on will not be a bad idea.

The Lankans if they win the toss must not hesitate to strike first. If they can put their heads down, bat as we know they can, then there is no reason why they should not run up a big score, put pressure on the home batsmen and ask them to sink or swim.

As for England, their pacemen James Anderson, Tim Bresnan. Stuart Broad and Jade Dernbach reveled in conditions that suited them. But it will not be the same, unless there is grass on the wicket and the conditions are overcast.

So here’s hoping that when the final ball is bowled in this final game of the one-day series and the near two month long tour, that the Lankans will taste the sweet smell of success.

The Sri Lankans will go into the final game against England without fast Bowler Suranga Lakmal who has picked a side strain at practice.

The selectors will have a look at the wicket and the conditions, before deciding who to play in Lakmal’s absence. Those vying for this slot are Thissara Perera and Dhammika Prasad.

This is a must win game for either side, with five-match one-day series 2-all.