Super Friday on the cards

Dilanka Mannakkara

It will be the battle between the winners of the groups stages tomorrow when the mighty Indians take on a resurgent Australia and the rampaging South Africans lock horns with the unpredictable Pakistanis. The interesting fact in this group is that all the teams were group winners in the group stage and it is going to be a Super Friday for cricket lovers.

The Australians will be riding on their talisman Shane Watson’s heroics to take the upper hand against the confident Indians who thrashed a woeful English side.

Watson was instrumental in both of Australia’s wins in the group stage both with the bat and ball.

His blistering hitting and accurate bowling upfront has been a treat to watch and ‘Watto’ will be rearing to have a go at the Indians tommrow at the R.Premadsa stadium.

A lot will depend on how the Aussie openers Warner and Watson will go about things and the Australians rely on the explosive duo to provide them a blazing start.

Mr Cricket Mike Hussey will be vital in the middle,rotating the strikes, anchoring the innings and going big at the end. Australia should give the experienced Dave Hussey a go in the middle as his power hitting and more than useful off spin bowling is an asset for any team he plays.

India experimented with their squad against England leaving out regulars Ashwin, Zaheer Khan and Sehwag from the team.But the replacements especially Harbhajan Singh who is making a comeback bowled superbly. It will be interesting to see how the final 11 combination for the Indians.

Would they go with the trio Aswin, Hrabhajan and Piyush Chawla or will they just go with two spinners? Lets wait and see till tomorrow. Irfan Pathan opened the innings against England and if Sehwag comes in Pathan will drop down again to number 7.

Meanwhile the rampaging and determined South Africans will take on the in form Pakistan side at 3.30 pm at the R.Premadasa grounds.

The Pakistani batting has surprisingly come good and all eyes will be on the dashing Imran Nazir and the promising Nasir Jamshed. The South Africans have looked the most impressive side so far and this would be a great battle between two top sides.