http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754: 2nd Test – Pitch Report
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 led Sri Lankan cricket team is geared up to take on out of sorts New Zealand side in the second and final Test of the short series at the P Sara Oval in Colombo between November 25 and 29.
History:
Formerly known as the Colombo Oval, P Sara Oval is a small cricket stadium that looks more like a club location than an international cricket ground due to its small stand and vast grass banks.
The venue hosted its first Test match in 1982 when Sri Lanka played England. The venue hosts one Test match per year in Sri Lanka’s cricket summer, but lost out the match between the Islanders and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749, which the tourists won by eight wickets.
The venue holds great historical cricketing significance for a number of reasons. It was the venue for Sri Lanka's first-ever Test win, when the hosts defeated India in 1985. In 2002 it became the venue to host the first ever neutral Test match, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 played Australia here, owing to security issues in the country.
Happy hunting ground:
P Sara Oval has been a happy hunting ground for the Islanders. Of the total 15 Test matches played here against different oppositions, Sri Lanka has won seven and lost only four, while the remaining four ended in draws.
Of the last ten matches played here, the hosts have won five, lost three and drew two.
The Pitch:
Unlike a typical sub-continental track, the wicket at P Sara Oval resembles more of a South African or Australian pitch with far more bounce than most Sri Lankan decks. Also it offers more assistance to the pace bowlers than the spinners. Placid at times and with short boundaries, this particular venue in Colombo is potentially a batsmen's paradise.
The highest total scored at this venue is 541 for 9 (declared), scored by the hosts against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 in July 2007.
Toss:
Toss is also expected to play its role in the outcome of the match. The last ten tosses saw the skippers opting to bat first at eight occassions, but they managed to win only thrice.
Home skipper says:
"The pitch at the P Sara Oval will have a bit more movement. It's usually livelier than the SSC. It will probably have more spin as well, on the fourth and fifth day of the Test. It will get slower towards the latter part, but it will be a result-orientated wicket." Mahela Jayawardene had said prior to the Test match against India at the ground, in 2010.
"Over the years it's been a very sporting pitch. A good batting track over the first three days and then some turn and bounce.” Jayawardene again, this time ahead of a 2008 clash against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
Conclusion
Despite being a batsmen’s paradise, the Oval wicket usually has something in it for all the bowlers, but the spinners mostly have to wait until the later stages of the game. Up until then, it should be the batsmen and the seamers who have the better of the running.
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