http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 vs. New Zealand Preview
India needs to beat http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 tomorrow if they are to make it to the final of the Tri-Series One-Day tournament taking place at the Rangiri International stadium in Dambulla.
The hosts, Sri Lanka, booked their place in the final after a resounding win over the Indians in their last league match. Where they recorded an 8 wicket win after rolling over the visitors for a mere 103 runs.
The match is a straight forward knock out for both teams with the winners booking a place in the final, while the losers would be sent packing.
The Indians have struggled in the tournament especially with the bat. In the opening match against the Black Caps, the much vaunted batting line-up collapsed for a mere 88 runs, whilst chasing a target of 289 runs.
They were equally dismal in their second match against the hosts barely reaching the 100 run mark.
Both times the top order failed to live up to its reputation caving in without a whimper. In their only successful performance with the bat in the event, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429, played the leading role flaying the hosts in a memorable 99-run unbeaten knock on a tricky wicket.
However, even in that game the top order was blown away fairly quickly and remains a major cause of concern for the beleaguered men in blue. They look tired and jaded after a long tour and are aching to get home.
In the clash against New Zealand they would need to come out all guns blazing if they are to topple a team that gave them a sound 200 run beating.
The Indian bowlers would also have to step up and be counted in the crucial match. The seam- attack led by, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Nehra-c46293, have jolted the opposing top order with regularity in the tournament.
The spin attack led by Pragyan Ojha has also contributed significantly in the event to ensure that the work put in by the pacers does not go to waste.
On the other hand the Black Caps have looked vulnerable with the bat themselves, despite posting the highest total of the tournament to date.
In their second match they found the going extremely tough caving in against the disciplined Sri Lankan attack led by Lasith Malinga and Angelo Matthews..
They would be relying heavily on Captain Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Watling-c1172 and Jacob Oram, who can all hit the ball a long way and propel the hosts to a big total.
The Black Caps are an excellent fielding side. While their string of pacers and swing bowlers including Kyle http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mills-c76321, Darrel Tuffey and Jacob Oram are once again going to be a handful on the Dambulla wicket especially if the ball jags around under the lights.
Even if they bowl first they are set to cause a lot of problems to the opposition given the tricky nature of the wicket which has variable bounce and can be double paced at times.
Ideally, the team that wins the toss ought to bat first and hope to post a total in the region of 250 to set up a real challenge for the opposition. The conditions are set to be tricky either way hence the batsmen should ensure that they put in a disciplined effort and stick on the wicket to ensure a sizeable total for their bowlers.
The Black Caps have good memories at the ground where they won one of their ODI titles in 2003. Beating http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 did not make it to the final of a tournament in their backyard.
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