Must win game for Sri Lanka today

Ranjan ANANDAPPA

As the ODI series against Australia is interestingly poised with Australia winning the first two and the Sri Lankans taking the third one to make the series 2-1 the Lankans will face a must win situation in today’s match to keep the series alive when they meet Australia at the R. Premadasa Stadium in a day/night match with play scheduled to begin at 2.30 pm.

The Lankans, in the quest of finding new talent has included right arm leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna as they did in the third ODI at Hambantota including medium pacer Shaminda Eranga who bowled impressively claiming the prize scalp of former captain Ricky Ponting and opener Brad Haddin to insert the pressure on the visitors by taking early wickets.

If Sri Lanka is to square the series 2-2 by winning the fourth one today ,they should give an improved performance. According to coach and former Sri Lanka Test opening bowler Rumesh Ratnayake said that the host will have to win the fourth one dayer at any cost to keep the series alive.

“To do that the side will have to perform exceptionally well. We will have to fine tune our bowling and fielding and even batting.”

Meanwhile, the Australian coach Tim Nielsen believed that any changes done in the final eleven for the crucial fourth one dayer will be based only after having inspected the R. Premadasa surface and not taking into account the loss in the third ODI at Hambantota.

The Australians had stuck to their winning combination in the previous three games. However, according to the curator Anurudha Polonowita the pitch will be a different one from the Pallekelle and Hambantota ones.

“Both those pitches were on the hard and dry side, but the Kettarama wicket is going to be a batsman friendly one. We have observed that there is no dew settling down in the evening at this time of the year and one could expect an interesting game of cricket,” said Polonowita.

The Australian coach Tim Nielsen also stressed on the importance of making early inroads to the Sri Lankan strong batting line up. The Lankan win in the third ODI at Hambantota was based on a 139 run opening stand between skipper T.M. Dilshan and left hander Upul Tharanga who completed a fine century.

Sri Lanka has dropped Dinesh Chandimal, all rounder Thisara Perera and left arm leg spinner Rangana Herath. Seekkuge Prasanna a right arm leg spinner who had a successful run with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team presently touring England has been called and included in the squad for the remaining two matches against the Australians.

Prasanna like team mate Ajantha Mendis comes from the Sri Lanka Army and has played an important role for his side in domestic cricket bowling in tandem with Ajantha Mendis.

The 21-year-old Dinesh Chandimal who scored an unbeaten century at Lords and followed it up by 54 has been dropped from the remaining two ODI due to poor form. His last four innings produced only 41 runs.

The other notable omission from the side is all rounder Thisara Perera who has played only one ODI since his hard hitting innings against India in the final.

Deputy Angelo Mathews who missed the third match due to injury should be back in the side and along with Mathews, Suranga Lakmal or Eranga should fill the void of a third paceman.

The teams:

Sri Lanka (from): Tillekeratne Dilshan (Captain), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews (V.Captain), Chamara Silva, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Suraj Randiv.

Australia (from): Michael Clarke (Captain), Xavier Doherty, Brad Hadin, Doug Bollinger, John Hastings, David Hussy, Michael Hussy, Bret Lee, Shaun Marsh, James Pallinson, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Shane Watson. umpires. Tony Hill (New Zealand) and Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka). TV Umpire: Asad Rauff (Pakistan).