Convincing win, a must for Sri Lanka

Indians will take it easy:

ELMO RODRIGOPULLE

The final one-day international between India and Sri Lanka at the Palekelle Stadium today will be a no show. That is because India has already won the series 3-1 and will be just going through the motions.

Going in to the third game at the R.Premadasa Stadium, when Sri Lanka got 285, they were set for victory. But they surprisingly let that opportunity slip. A victory, even if they lost the fourth game would have kept the interest in the series alive with one to go, going to Palekelle.

While the Indians will take it easy and not lay much emphasis on this game, having already won the series, the onus will be on Sri Lanka to win this one and save their skin. Another defeat and critics will turn their guns on them.

With India perilously placed on 112 for 4 in the fourth game, there was a deafening appeal for a caught behind off Suresh Raina. Wicket keeper Dinesh Chandimal and the close infielders swear that Raina got a touch.

But the man of the moment umpire Kumar Dharmasena was unmoved. Sri Lankans reckon had Raina been given out they could have turned the game their way.

While not challenging that thinking, had the UDRS been in operation the decision would have been over turned. That’s obviously why the Indians scoff at the UDRS.

In defence of former off cutting Sri Lankan all rounder, now turned umpire and an elite one at that and heading for the ‘best umpire of the year’ award Kumar Dharmasena, it must be said that he did not hear the faint touch and did not raise his finger.

Dharmasena from the time he joined the elite panel has been growing in confidence and stature and has earned the respect of all teams for his unbiased umpiring. He should not be lynched for this genuine mistake.

From ball one the Lankans must try and take control and only a convincing win will enable them to regain lost prestige. They have it in them to do just that. What they have to do is believe in themselves then the pieces will fall right.

While the Sri Lankans will put their best side out, the Indians will have the luxury of giving their reserves, who are as good has their front liners a go. While this game will lack interest, the Twenty20 on Tuesday will be chockfull of interest.