Pakistan vs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 – 3rd ODI Asia Cup – Sri Lankan Players to Watch Out
The Sri Lankan team will be looking to keep their hopes of qualifying for the finals alive, when they tackle http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the third game of the Asia Cup, played at the Shere Bangla Stadium, on March 15, 2012.
Despite centuries from Virat Kohli and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SK-Raina-c2539 tore them apart and collected a whopping 78 to help their
side post a daunting 304.
Their run-chase was then on course with skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779, accumulating briskly before their dismissals unsettled the inexperienced middle and lower order, which failed against an average bowling line of the Men In Blue.
With their fate hanging by a thread, another poor performance could see them bow out earlier than expected – so a win remains their only hope of avoiding a premature exit.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691
With all-rounder Angelo Mathews being ruled out from the tournament, Dilshan will have the added responsibility of bowling out his full quota of overs. However, his batting prowess also becomes crucial at the top due to the lack of firepower in the lower
order.
He was unlucky to miss out in the first game after being sent back early on by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-Pathan-c1601. However, his form of late has been impressive, which includes a career highest of an unbeaten 160 in the recently concluded Commonwealth Bank series Down Under.
His flamboyant game play always remains self destructive, but could also turn out to be extremely devastating for the opposition. His work ethic will now revolve around his ability to provide his team with a solid foundation, considering the inform nature
of his opening partner and skipper, Mahela Jayawardene.
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela’s captaincy stint has rejuvenated the side completely, considering the slump they had gone into. Also his promotion upfront has helped him not only regain his form, but allowed the youngsters to take responsibility down the order.
He again showed his class with a quick fire 78 before his dismissal marked a considerable decline in the team’s fortune in the previous game. With a temptation of moving down still a realistic possibility, the management might resist any such appeal as it
could further disrupt the good work been carried up by the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913.
However, with Mathews ruled out, Jayawardene will need to ensure that he plays from start to finish and reach a triple-digit score which has eluded him for a considerable amount of time now.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540
His exclusion from the first bout against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737) was the main reason of him being left out.
However, the management cleared the air by announcing that he had indeed been rested after a grueling time Down Under, where he contested on through a pain barrier in the finals of the tournament.
Fit and raring to go, Malinga will swiftly slot in at the no.11 position where he will prove key in the death overs, which remained as a painstaking affair for his side against MS Dhoni and Raina. His form is arguably lean at the moment but he will be looking
to come out in full force and guide his team to a much needed victory.
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