First Twenty20 at Pallekelle today:

Lankans set to clear first hurdle

Chinthana WASALA

The Sri Lankan cricketers will be looking to clear their first hurdle when they face the touring Australians in the first of two Twenty20 internationals at Pallekelle International Stadium this evening.

The former ODI world champions will look to start the one and a half month long tour on a positive note while the Sri Lanka team is banking on its blend of youth and experience to deliver their best against the visitors.

Australia will be looking forward to rebuild their reputation after falling down in the Test rankings while not being able to impress in the recently concluded World Cup of the shorter form of the game which was held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, under the guidance of their new panel of coaches, headed by the legendary pacie Rumesh Ratnayake, are positive towards a good game in their favour according to the skipper T.M. Dilshan.

On the other hand, the youthful deputy skipper Anjelo Mathews also thinks that the absence of Paceman Lasith Malinga and Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan would not affect the strength of the team in a considerable note.

Australia is here after having crushed Bangladesh in their only other series after the World Cup, and that makes this, their first big encounter after the World Cup.

Sri Lanka had just finished their England tour where they won the T20 international but lost both Test and ODI series.

But Sri Lanka is well known for their supremacy in own territory and that fact alone would make any visiting team to think twice about the game plan.