Lanka out to gain consolation win

Sri Lanka will strive to gain a consolation win over Australia in the fifth and final One-Day International at the Premadasa Stadium today having lost the series after their five wicket defeat at the same venue in the fourth One-Day International on Saturday. Sri Lanka is likely to bolster their fragile middle order batting by bringing in Dinesh Chandimal and all-rounder Jeevan Mendis at the expense of out of form Chamara Silva and paceman Shamidra Eranga. It was the Lankan middle order, which let down the team with a spineless display of batting which saw them lose their last eight wickets for just 37 runs having being well placed at 95 for 2 at one stage.

It was the Australian pace-spin combination of Brett Lee and Xavier Doherty who ripped through the Lankan batting line-up but the Lankan batsmen are expected to give a much better display today.

The Australians are expected to field the same team today with Shaun Marsh once again expected to open the batting with the aggressive Shane Watson.

Marsh rescued the Australians with a solid knock of 70 and was involved in a third wicket stand of 97 runs with skipper Michael Clarke after the visitors were in a spot of bother when paceman Lasith Malinga removed the consistent Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting in the same over with the scoreboard reading 26 for 2.

Spinner Seekuge Prasanna who had a dream debut by capturing three wickets in four balls in the fourth one-dayer should once again torment the Australians along with paceman Lasith Malinga.

The teams:

SRI LANKA: Tillekeratne Dilshan (captain), Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Seekuge Prasanna, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.

AUSTRALIA: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (captain), Mike Hussey, David Hussey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, Doug Bollinger.