Sri Lanka smarting from the heavy defeat in the first of the five ODI’s played at Pallekele will no doubt come into this game to make amends while for Australia it was a dream start after being outclassed in the two T-20s.
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| Bigger deeds are expected from the two senior citizens -- Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena |
The two sides will confront each other in their second ODI today at the Sooriyawewa Stadium, Hambantota.
For the visitors left arm pacie Mitchell Johnson who finished with career best figures of 6 for 31 will be the cynosure all eyes along with man in form Shane Watson who has been the tormenter of the Sri Lanka bowlers.
Johnson was only brought in to bowl after 15 overs in the first game and captured six wickets in his first six over spell which turned the game on its head. It was a tactical move by Australian skipper Michael Clarke which paid rich dividends.
Sri Lanka skipper T.M. Dilshan and his team after the seven wickets mauling for sure will come into the game with all cylinders firing and the Australians will be expecting a better performance from their opponents.
Sri Lanka’s attack was not menacing and their fielding was also sloppy which gave the Australians the advantage. They will have to make a better impression if they are expecting to give the Australians a fight.
At Pallekele the Lankans got off to a flying start with openers Dilshan and Tharanga going at the rate of nearly seven runs an over before over zealous Tharanga made a batting blunder.
Today two telling innings are expected from the two senior citizens of the Lankan camp -- former skippers Kumara Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena. Besides that it is also hoped that young Dinesh Chandimal, along with deputy skipper Angelo Mathews, will make the Lankan middle order bat with more responsibility.
Skipper Dilshan and Coach Rumesh Ratnayake had two days of practice to take a close look at where they went wrong in their first ODI outing. The performance in the opening ODI was below standard than how they performed in the two T20 matches. The score of 191 put on board was not a score that any top team could defend, when players in the caliber of Shane Watson who is in devastating form is in the side.
Watson is definitely going to be the danger man if Sri Lanka is not going to fine tune the fielding. The catch missed of Watson before he had made a half ton was very crucial.
If they make the same mistakes in the game today they will have to forget their dream of moving up the ODI rank ladder. Sri Lanka came into the series with the task of having to win the series 4-1 to become number one in the ODI rankings. With the defeat they are left with the daunting task of trying to win the remaining four matches if they are to fulfill their ambitions. So it is obvious that they will have to come into the wicket and stay clear from playing rash strokes and give their supporters something to cheer at. Spinners Ajantha Mendis and Suraj Randiv are capable of going through the Australian batting and they were the successful bowlers in the opening game. Likewise curtailing the Australia batting is going to be tough with the return of their three experienced players’ skipper Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey which has made a big difference.
Clarke and Ponting obliged with half tons, giving a warning to the Sri Lanka bowlers while Hussey is yet to get an opportunity to be tested. But Dilshan has not given up the hope of achieving their target of reaching the top.
It is likely that there would be a big change in the Sri Lanka side today with the exception of Suranga Lakmal who maybe replaced by Lasith Malinga who is expected to be fit. Australia may most probably retain the same side which gave them a thumping seven wickets victory.
The teams:
Sri Lanka: - T.M. Dilshan (Capt), Angelo Mathews, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal. Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Jeewan Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal.
Australia: - Michael Clarke (Capt), Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Steven Smith, Xavier Doherty, Doug Bollinger, Shaun Marsh. |
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