The first ODI of the Micromax Cup of 2012 between India and Sri Lanka will be played tomorrow at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. This will be the first game in a five-match series
between the two South Asian giants.
The venue at which the game will be played is the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium which holds a seating capacity of 35,000. It is one of the newer venues in Sri Lanka and showcased its first ODI in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. India
has never played Sri Lanka or any other team at Hambantota, which makes Sri Lanka clear cut favorites for the first game. Sri Lanka has been able to master the conditions, which are similar to the Premadasa. Their recent success against Pakistan would also
be an advantage and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 would feel confident about exploiting the batting wicket and hoping to defend the score posted.
The toss could thus prove to be pivotal as the MRICS has historically been conducive to runs and stroke play. Off the two World Cup matches which were played at this ground, the team batting first has compiled 300 plus runs on both occasions and won
the games comfortably in the second innings. Good bowling has however, been instrumental in the latter part of the innings at the MRICS, with the recent T20 games played between the hosts and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 helping the side batting first win comfortably. The pitch
is expected to offer more assistance to the bowlers in the second innings, as was the case in the recent games, when the ball deviated off the pitch under lights.
India on the other hand are coming off a month long break and have been out of cricket. They have not played in Sri Lanka since 2010 and would be handicapped by the unavailability of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556, who has played more games for India against Sri
Lanka than anyone else in the team. The bowling however, has received a boost with the inclusion of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umesh-Yadav-c94625 in the squad. India’s aim would be similar to Sri Lanka’s, as their elongated batting lineup is expected to post a formidable score
and defend it. Bowling has historically, not been India’s strong suit, yet the batsmen have been in good form with the spotlight being on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737, to lead India to a momentous total.
The last ODI played between India and Sri Lanka was in the 2012 Asia Cup which India won comfortably by batting first and bowling Sri Lanka out of the game. Dhoni’s men would be aiming to do the same to their fellow World Cup finalists, as the conditions
at Hambantota are tailor made for batting. A total of 134 one day internationals have been played between both teams with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 by 20 games.
The series will be eagerly contested by both teams who encountered one another on numerous occasions. Both India and Sri Lanka were World Cup finalists, and since then have played each other in the Commonwealth Bank Series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and the Asia
Cup of 2012. The series has provoked a lot of interest due to the sporadic nature of the results between both sides, where neither has conclusively asserted dominance over one another.
Tags: