Sri Lanka v Canada Match Preview LIVE: ICC World Cup 2011
World Cup co-hosts, Sri Lanka will kick off their quest to regain the coveted World Cup trophy they lifted in 1996 when they play against minnows Canada at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on Sunday, February 20, 2011.
This will only be the second time both outfits will face each other in an international match. The last encounter between the teams was a nightmare for Canada after they were bundled out for just 36 runs. The Lankans had wrapped up the game inside five overs of their innings.
However, a closely contested 16-run defeat at the hands of England in this week’s warm-up game would give Captain Ashish Bagai some hope of avoiding that scenario.
Canada would best seek sweet revenge even if everyone else in the world of cricket expects them to lose.
Fans will also be wishing to stay longer at the venue and witness a evenly-contested World Cup match and not a one hour one-sided show being led by one of the World Cup favourites.
There isn't much to compare on the basis of their performance in the past as both sides have met only once in the past. Sri Lanka Captain Kumar Sangakkara himself has conceded that they know little about the opposition that gave the World Twenty20 Champions a scare during a warm-up game earlier in the week.
Coming to Sri Lanka’s squad, the 2007 World Cup finalists have a strong team- a magnificent blend of youth and experience, but fans are keen to see how the magical spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157 performs in his swansong World Cup opener.
Most of the key guns of the home side including skipper, Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, and the pace duo of Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara were part of the 2007 World Cup squad where the side from the Pearl Island finished second.
The Lankan players are familiar with the Subcontinent's conditions and are well prepared for the Cup opener. Most of the tracks favour spin and the Sri Lanka spin wizard, Muttiah Muralitharan, would be eager to leave his final World Cup on a sparkling note.
The tourists on the other hand, will be cautious to avoid another thrashing at the hands of the flamboyant Lanka side.
Their batting will be led by key batsman, John Davison, who will be supported by Harvir Baidwan, at the top of the order. Wicketkeeper-batsman amd skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Bagai-c46284, will also have to keep the scorecard ticking in a bid to replicate Wednesday’s performance.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750-born Balaji Rao will spearhead the bowling attack for Canada and lots of hopes will be attached with the young man to halt the blitz of Sri Lanka batsmen.
Sangakkara’s side is one of the favourites to lift the trophy while Canada stands among the World Cup outsiders. However, the hosts will not wish to take http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 as an easy opposition knowing a slight mistake can lead to an upset.
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