Kumar Sangakkara's absence will haunt the lankans - Opinion
Kumar Sangakkara’s fractured finger in the third ODI of the Micromax Cup of 2012 was such a severe blow to his side that it is plausible to assume that it could change the outcome of this series. With both sides playing wonderfully well and the series well
poised at 2-1 in favor of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, Sangakkara’s injury might have some serious ramifications for a side that has continued to rely on him for averting crisis situations.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 managed to amass a commanding 286 for 5 in their fifty overs after they were reeling at 20 for 3 in the Third ODI. The revival came from a man who has continued to step up the gas when his side has needed it the most. Sangakkara’s typically suave
innings consisted of just five boundaries as he maneuvered the ball into the gap using his sweaty palms to great effect. Sadly, one of his sweaty assets had to bear the blow of a rising delivery from Ashok Dinda, where even intense spraying failed to mitigate
the pain. Sangakkara was eventually caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-Dinda-c1098 and with his side comfortably poised at 5 for 182 he left the field knowing that his contribution has restored some pride.
The news from the dressing room surfaced in the negative however. Sangakkara has now been ruled out for six weeks as his finger has been fractured. The severity of that blow haunted Sri Lanka to the point of having rookie, Dinesh Chandimal take up the wicket
keeping responsibility in his absence. Chandimal did a fair job in the end, but unlike Sanga, his presence failed to lift the team spirits. India galloped to an easy five wicket win with Sri Lanka gutted to have not defended the score.
Time and time again it has been Sangakkara who has been the savior for Sri Lanka. There have been numerous occasions when his side’s top order fails to outlandish pressure, only for them to fight back, courtesy his efforts. If one is to minus his 73 runs
from Sri Lanka’s final total of 286, then the game was done and dusted for the hosts. His ability to martial his troops even when Jayawardene is captaining the side, is indicative of a man who can translate his experience into action. It could have taken a
Sangakkara special catch or a stumping that could have dented India’s surge. It wasn’t to be, and the script is not expected to change.
With two games to go, the series will now boil down as an uneven match. For those who claim that the term ‘individual match winners’ is a misnomer, are horribly misled. Sangakkara’s ability to win games singlehandedly has made him a trump card. What has
hit Sri Lanka now is a dazzling Indian batting line up on pitches which are conducive to stroke play. Sri Lanka’s limited batting expertise would heavily rely on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 and Angelo Matthews. Without him at number three, Sri
Lanka would have to compromise with having http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831 at the top of the innings, which may be a fair deal, but incomparable with Sanga’s presence.
The Indian bowling had been peppered in the Third ODI at Colombo and commentators were quick to point out that Angelo Matthews was the turning point. With his 71 runs off just 57 deliveries, Matthews helped Sri Lanka play out of their skins to post a match
winning total. Yet unlike, Sangakkara, Matthews did not have the ability to anchor the innings and guide the Lankans out of trouble. A cool, level headed and experienced player at the top of the order would be sorely missed.
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