Second one-dayer against India today:
Sri Lankans must get their catching right
Elmo Rodrigopulle
Now that pride has been wounded after their defeat in the first
one-day international against India, Sri Lanka must come out firing all
cylinders and bring down the opponents in the second meeting at the
Sooriyawewa Stadium, today.
After allowing the Indians to pile up 314 for 6 in their 50 overs,the
Lankans did well to get to 293 for 9 in 50 and lose by just 21 runs. A
case of being so near and yet so far.
It was the vital catches dropped by the usually reliable Tillekeratne
Dilshan and Thisara Perera that made winning a hard task.
Virender Sehwag 96 was dropped on one and Virat Kohli on 16 in his
century knock.
Had these two catches been grabbed, the Lankans would not have had a
big score to chase when they began their reply. As skipper Mahela
Jayawardena said, the fielding was poor after a long time.
But that’s how the game goes and the Lankans must forget those lapses
and take the field in the second game with a positive approach,
confident that they are the better side and can clip the Indians.
Jayawardena will miss his main missile in Nuwan Kulesekera who
suffered a groin injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the
series.
The man likely to replace him is left armer Isuru Udana. They have
also recalled Nuwan Pradeep.
But Udana lacks the experience and in a vital game like this, and the
Lankans could toss in off spinning all rounder Sachitra Senanayake.
But all will depend on the pitch and the conditions. Had Sri Lanka
another batsman who could have stayed and supported Kumar Sangakkara
like did Thisara Perera, the script cold have been different. Sangakkara
played a grand knock and it is hoped that that form will not desert him.
Slinger Lasith Malinga was off colour and the Indian batsmen played him
easy.
His line and length was not right and he went for a lot of runs. But
that won’t happen again. He must let fly after getting his line and
length right.
The Sooriyawewa wicket seems good for the side batting first with the
ball coming nicely on to the bat, but surprisingly changes face and gets
slow and the side batting second tend to struggle.So the side batting
first will certainly be at an advantage. |