No reason why India cannot be beaten:
Lankans have it in them to win and move on
Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting From Australia
The Sri Lankan cricketers, after their excellent performance in Perth
where they had the Australians hoping like kangaroos to stave off
defeat, will take inspiration from that effort when they play the
Indians here at the Adelaide Oval today in a Commonwealth Bank series
game under lights.
It was just bad luck that Sri Lanka lost to India and Australia in
Perth. Had luck looked kindly on them, the Lankans would have taken the
field in Adelaide all smiles.
But with India beating Australia, the Lankans are placed in a
situation where they will have to get back to winning ways if they hope
to keep their chances alive of figuring in the best of three finals.
Up against it
A loss to India, and the Lankans will be up against it. From now on
Sri Lanka will have to dare and call the shots and not leave anything to
chance.
This game is a must win game. The selectors when picking the playing
eleven, will have to front up the best men who could turn tables on the
Indians, who must now be licking their lips after their grand win over
Australia.
The Adelaide Oval looks a picture with the St. Peter’s Cathedral
overlooking it. Today’s game will be played on the same strip on which
the India-Australia thriller was played.
According to selector on tour Asantha de Mel, the playing eleven will
be picked after a look at the wicket. ‘It looked slow during the India-
Australia game and we will be looking at going in with two spinners. But
that is only an option”, he said.
Under pressure
Sri Lanka must fire from the first ball. If they could put the
Indians under pressure from the first ball, then when the final ball is
delivered, victory could be their’s.
Openers Tillakratne Dilshan Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh
Chandimal, Mahela Jayawardena and Lahiru Thirimanne must make big
scores. Tharanga and Thirimanne have not made any contributions of
significance.
Dilshan, Jayawardena, the captain and Kumar Sangakkara must set an
example to their team mates by making big scores. A lot depends on them
to set the Indians an imposing total.
Stay at the wicket
Jayawardena must stay at the wicket and not take any risks till he
gets to 30 to 40 runs. He is too good to keep failing and a big score is
due from him. This could be the game he has been waiting for to unwind.
He must cut out the risky strokes early on.
As for the bowling Lasith Malinga has not been bowling at his best.
He has not been able to direct his threatening Yorkers as he usually
does. If he does it right in this game,chances of winning will be there.
Nuwan Kulasekera has always been a trier. He bowls long spells and
endeavors to bowl wicket to wicket which is the right thing to do in
this style of game.
Dhammika Prasad is showing glimpses of turning out into being an all
rounder if the manner in which he defied the Aussie bowers with Angelo
Mathews is an indication.
Bowled beautifully
Mathews seems to have got over his injuries that have stalled his
progress, especially in bowling. He bowled beautifully in the game
against Australia and must do similarly in this game too.
The Lankan think tanks will do well to promote Mathews up the order
when chasing a target. To bat him in him usual position and the ask him
to unleash,will be to put undue pressure on his natural stroke play.
India will be a tough nut to crack now that they have got into the
winning street. But if the Lankans believe in themselves and play true
to form, should come out winners and take it from there and move to the
finals.
Adelaide, Monday |