Sri Lanka v Australia – 5th ODI – Match Preview
Australia will look to inflict more misery on the hosts, Sri Lanka, when both meet up in the fifth and final match of the One-Day series at Colombo (RPS) on August 22, 2011.
The kangaroos have made a strong statement of intent after a commanding series win, mainly provided by their bowling attack, which looked impressive throughout.
As for the hosts, it has been a disappointment, and one which will have its consequences, come the conclusion of the final One-Dayer. The middle-order in particular, has been lacklustre, which again relied heavily on the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 and Kumar
Sangakkara to deliver.
With both having mediocre outings, it was then left to the antics of skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 upfront, to provide them with the early momentum. However, credit must be given to the Aussie pace attack, which kept the explosive hitter, relatively quiet
in the series.
It was also good to see http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 back in form with some influential half-centuries. This will surely keep his confidence up, especially, for the difficult tasks ahead.
Having said that, the visitors batting line-up is yet to be fully tested. In the 3rd one-dayer, they flopped after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 mounted a huge score. One could argue that in some ways, Lankans have let themselves down.
As for the respective bowling departments, hats off to the Kangaroos pacers, which have impressed on pitches which were expected to assist the spinners. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 have been in full running and have claimed crucial wickets
all along. The skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978, would be delighted to see them peaking when most needed, and will hope that they carry on in much the same manner, for the rest of the tour.
For the hosts, the panic button was pressed when they had to cut short leg break bowler Seekkuge Prasanna’s Sri Lankan A tour and hand him his debut in the fourth One-Dayer. This only meant that the rest of the spinners, the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BAW-Mendis-c1127 and Rangana
Herath, weren’t good enough to perform, who at the beginning of the tournament were touted as the major threat to the Kangaroos' batting line-up.
After the off-field debacles, which have badly exposed the frailty in Cricket Australia, it is a massive series win for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 can still become a force to reckon with.
Their counterparts would look to put things right and win at Colombo, after much was expected from the team. However, a win will do them no harm, which will keep the morale up, especially, before the start of the Test series.
The hosts might be tempted to play Jeevan Mendis to give the middle-order solidarity, due to his all-round abilities. However, it will be up to the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 to step and get counted after a horror in the previous match.
For the Aussies, they might rest a few players as the series is in the bag. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJ-Hussey-c1380.
The forecast is for heavy showers and temperature in high 20’s. The pitch might not offer the same pace and bounce as it did in the fourth One-Dayer, but is expected to turn.
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