http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746: 3rd ODI at Hambantota – Lankan players to watch out for
The struggling Sri Lankan side is ready to go against Australia in the crucial third One Day International (ODIs), which will played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.
Trailing 0-2 in the five-match series, the clash will be a make-or-break game for the Lankans, as they will have to produce good result in order to stay alive in the competition.
Since it will be a pressure game, the veteran duo, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, will be Sri Lanka’s key assets in the batting department. Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis will have to take responsibility in the bowling attack.
Kumar Sangakkara
Since the third game is a do-or-die situation for the home side, the pressure will be immense on the players. In such conditions, Sangakkara’s experience will be very important for the Lankans, as the left-handed batsman has a knack of playing natural cricket
even in the worst of times.
Regaining his form, the 33-year-old batsman smashed a 52-run-knock at a critical time in the last game. Once again, Sangakkara will step into the field with an aim to play an anchor role in the innings and guide his side to an essential victory. The former
skipper holds a lot of experience under his belt, as he has served Sri Lanka in 298 ODIs, amassing 9453 runs at 38.11.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397
Although, the ex-skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779, hit a half-century in the previous game, the other former skipper, Jayawardene, is yet to show his class. Flashing a wide delivery in the first game and top-edging the ball in the second, the classy right-hander
has not yet looked at his best.
Yet, the seasoned batsman is undoubtedly a class act. Therefore, the islanders will be hoping to see Jayawardene hammering the Aussies bowlers and helping the side bounce back. In 349 ODIs for Sri Lanka, the 34-year-old batsman has gathered 9753 runs at
an average of 33.28
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540
After missing the first ODI, Malinga returned to side in the last game but failed to trouble Aussies with either of his famous yorkers and bouncers.
In order to keep his threat in the minds of batsmen from across the glove, the fast bowlers will have to perform well in the crunch game. In his 91-ODI-old career, Malinga has proved his worth on number of occasion, as he holds 139 scalps to his credit.
His primary goals will be to provide vital breakthroughs with the new ball, dismissing dangerous http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 to go for a big partnership.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BAW-Mendis-c1127
By taking six wickets in the second Twenty20 contest against Australia, Mendis became the first bowler to claim six wicket-haul in the shorter version of the game. However, he failed to shift his form into the 50-over format, as he remained unsuccessful
in giving any tough time to the Kangaroos in the last two matches.
Having played 55 ODIs, the unorthodox spinner is not unfamiliar to the international pressure. Although, his only objective will be to replicate the performance that he showed in the Twenty20 match, he will have to keep his nerves under-control in order
to produce anything near to that act.
It will be an excitement battle between the two strong teams of International cricket. Yet, it will be even more interesting to see who of these masters of the game emerge as the hero of the party.
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