Positive Lankans to play third ODI today

Ranjan ANANDAPPA reporting from UAE

A buoyant Sri Lanka captain Tillkeratne Dilshan is hoping to maintain the same momentum in the third One Day International as they did in the second one which the Lankans recorded a 25 run win to square the series last Monday.

Today being a holiday in the UAE, Dilshan expects more support from the Sri Lankan quarters and thought that the series is well poised for an interesting finish. “It is an important match for both sides, and winners could go for the third one dayer with their heads high. Both sides have an opportunity to win the series if we play good cricket.

At the moment all players are confident of playing with their true potential” said Dilshan.

He further said the main thing is to maintain the consistency and play good cricket, if we do that we should have the advantage. To win back-to-back matches, we should carry forward all the positive things which we did in the last game.

It is a new match and we have to start from the beginning whether we bat or bowl first, so every player realize the importance of it and are ready for the challenge.

Sri Lanka often gets a good start but then start crumbling and at times slowing down in the middle order amidst the Pakistan spin attack.

To rectify this problem the team has been having discussions. “We have discussed that problem with the players, but if we keep our wickets intact I am sure we could aim at a challenging total to put Pakistan under pressure.

That is what our target is. We realize that we get a bit slow down in the middle overs and the players are aware of this situation and rotating the strike to get the middle overs going is important” he added.

He said “Upul Tharanga is confident and Mahela Jayawardena is also back in the runs and the batting seems to be clicking and hopefully we should do the same thing in today’s match.” A total over 240 is a good one as the match will be played on the same surface that Sri Lanka won last Monday.

Referring to Lasith Malinga’s match winning bowling performance and taking over 150 wickets in One Day Internationals, Dilshan said “Lasith is a fantastic bowler and a leading bowler in the world and as the captain I am really glad that he is a member of the team Every time when he bowls he has the ability to take a wicket and get the breakthrough and put the side back in the game. At times he advices me and also he is an asset to the team.”

Sri Lanka will most probably field the same winning combination. However, injured Suranga Lakmal will fly back home and left arm fast bowler Chanaka Welegedera will come in as a replacement.