Mahela Jayawardene vs. Ross Taylor: player analysis – ICC World Cup 2011
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in the quarter-final. The Black
Caps earned a stunning quarter-final win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 to get them into this exciting semi-final contest.
Both teams have incorporated a great variety of talented players in their squads including top-class experienced batsmen, pacers and spinners.
Mahela Jayawardene is one of the most prolific middle-order batsmen of the Sri Lankan team. The versatile batsman has the ability to play spin and fast equally all around the wicket, making him very dangerous for the opposition. In addition, the batsman
has the ability to anchor the innings and face every type of bowler with great confidence.
His prior experience of playing in three World Cup tournaments is an additional advantage for Sri Lanka. Jayawardene’s performance in the first two editions of the tournament remained anonymous, as he scored just 21 runs during seven innings of 2003 edition.
However, he gave a significant performance during the 2007 tournament, where he scored an unbeaten 115 runs in the semi-final against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 and became the second highest run scorer of the mega event.
In 27 World Cup innings so far, Jayawardene has amassed 871 runs at an average of 34.84 including two centuries and five fifties.
Former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu described Jayawardene and said, "A touch player in a class of his own. The amount of cricketing knowledge he brings makes him an asset in the side. He is probably the only player who can bat anywhere in the top seven
because of his class."
On the hand, Ross Taylor is the big hitter of the New Zealand team. He has the ability to take the pressure off the team with aggressive batting skills and amazing stroke play. Although, he plays all round the ground, but he prefers to play shots to the
off-side. In addition, he plays the cut shot and cover drives, which grab the attention of the crowd. Taylor has immense talent, as he has the ability to take on the best players in the world and totally dismantle the opposition’s bowling line-up.
Though, the 27-year-old is less experienced, as compared to Jayawardene, but his mature batting puts him amongst some of the top batsmen in the world. The ICC World Cup 2011 is the second mega event of his career, where he has given an outstanding consistent
performance. Taylor put on an amazing show with his magnificent unbeaten 131 runs in 124 balls with eight fours and seven sixes, during New Zealand’s victory over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 at the group stage.
In 11 World Cup innings so far, Taylor has scored 395 runs at an average of 39.50 including one century and two fifties.
Former New Zealand cricketer Danny Morrison described http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 recently. He's the go-to man at No.4, and there's a bit of pressure
on him."
It is now ‘do or die’ time for both teams, as the winner will advance to the finals and the loser will go home. Both teams will battle it out in this amazing match and try to put in a good performance for a comprehensive victory. Sri Lanka has a definite
edge, as they have a stronger batting and spin bowling line-up. However, New Zealand will not go out without a fight and will put everything they have on the line for a win.
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