Pakistanis are down and out :

Lankans must go hard and wrap up the series

The Sri Lankan cricketers now that they are leading the Five-match one day series 2-1,must not relax or let complacency set in, but go hard at the Pakistanis in the final game at the R.Premadasa Stadium, today. A 3-1 victory will be sweet revenge. The Pakistanis won the one-day series in the desert and the Lankans must avenge that defeat and another victory will be ample compensation for those defeats.

In losing the fourth game, after being in a winning position when Azhar Ali and Misbh-Ul-Haq were motoring along, showed that the Pakistanis can crumble when under pressure.

And in Mahela Jayawardena the Lankans are lucky to have a General who reads the game intelligently and knows when to put the Pakistanis under pressure by setting tight fields and bringing on the attacking bowlers at the right time who know how to lure the batsmen to their demise.

After Kumar Sangakkara finally struck form with a pleasing 97 and who with Jayawardena took Sri Lanka to a formidable total, Thisara ‘Midas’ Perera blew the Pakistanis away with some devastating bowling.

His hat-trick came at the right time. Jayawardena brought him at the right moment and he obliged with a telling spell. His victims were non-plussed and surrendered without offering any resistance.

Ample luck

Captaincy is 90 percent luck and 10 percent skill and the suave Jayawardena has luck amply smilingly his way.

Winning tosses in limited-over cricket is vital. And Jayawardena has done right in batting first, thereby putting pressure on the side having to chase.

The weather is so unpredictable and there is the possibility of rain spoiling this game too. In case of rain and if the game cannot be played today, it will be played on Tuesday.

The Lankan cricketers are well supported by the cricket fans who throng the Stadium and keep cheering them beating their papare, papare bands, singing and dancing and holding some encouraging placards.

‘Mathews marry me’ was one such placard carried by a member of the fair sex in the crowd.

And the Lankans have been obliging playing the better, positive and attractive cricket and victory has been just reward. Now that the Lankan have the advantage they must stay that way.

Among the runs

While the Sri Lankan top order is among the runs, it is paramount that the middle comprising batsmen of the calibre of Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne chip in with big runs.

They are all free scoring batsmen with the right temperament for this style of game and it is time that they realised this and made big contributions cementing the good work of the top order. The Lankans have the edge in all aspects, and must give continuity to this and aim to be the best side in world cricket.

Abject failures

The Pakistani woes stem from the fact that while the bowlers have delivered, the batsmen especially Mohammed Hafeez, Uma Akmal, Younis Khan and Sahid Afridi have been abject failures.

Skipper Misbah has always been fighting a lone battle.

Azhar Ali is showing good promise as an opener and with more experience should serve Pakistan cricket well.

The poor bowling form of mystery spinner Sajeed Ajmal must also be worrying. He was expected to be the tormentor. But seems to have lost his hunger for wickets.

Over then to the R.Premaasa Stadium and weather permitting another game of thrill-a-minute cricket.