Preview: SL v Ind – 2nd ODI
First Published : 23 Jul 2012, 12:32
Last Modified : 23 Jul 2012, 14:20
What
The second ODI of the five-match series between India and Sri Lanka
When
July 24, 2012. The game begins at 14:30 IST.
Where
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota. The visitors got their first feel of the venue in the series opener and adapted to the conditions immediately. With a good batting track on offer, the Indians almost seemed like they were playing at home. However, MS Dhoni would do well to bat first should he win the toss as the wicket seemed to slow down a bit in the second innings.
The Teams
The visitors put up a strong showing in the first ODI, though one wonders if things might have been different had Tillakaratne Dilshan held on to Sehwag’s catch when the latter was yet to score a run. Besides that, having reduced Sri Lanka to 191 for six, MS Dhoni would have liked his bowlers to wrap up the Sri Lankan lower order a lot faster than they eventually did. Dhoni also needs to keep an eye on the over-rate; his side was one over behind the required rate in the previous ODI.
Nuwan Kulasekara’s absence from the remainder of the series due to a groin injury sustained in the first game makes life more difficult for the hosts. 24-year-old Isuru Udana is likely to make his ODI debut tomorrow, unless Jayawardene opts to play the extra spinner – Sachitra Senanayake or Jeevan Mendis – both of who can also bat a bit. Meanwhile, the hosts have pencilled in right-arm medium pacer Nuwan Pradeep in the squad to replace the injured Kulasekara.
Key Players
Although Irfan Pathan posted the most economical figures among bowlers between both teams in the first ODI, R Ashwin kept the Lankans on a tight leash in the middle overs while breaking the crucial Upul Tharanga-Kumar Sangakkara stand for the second wicket. In all, Ashwin has taken five wickets in his last two ODI games against the Lankans while giving away just 85 runs in 19 overs (economy-rate 4.47).
With his knock of 133, Kumar Sangakkara notched up his fifth ton against the visitors. This is the most number of centuries Sangakkara has against any team. Also, the 2362 runs he has scored against India are the most he has scored against any team in ODIs.
Trivia
India – Despite his four centuries, Virat Kohli is not the leading ODI run-getter in 2012 at this stage. That record belongs to Kumar Sangakkara, who at 1038 runs (from 25 matches) is 202 runs clear of Virat (836 from 12 matches). Even Tillakaratne Dilshan (884 runs from 25 matches) is ahead of Kohli. Kohli, however, has scored the most centuries in the year.
Sri Lanka – Lasith Malinga’s figures of 10-0-83-0 in the first ODI are the fourth worst for a bowler (tied with Upul Chandana) in a Sri Lanka versus India game. Malinga also has the dubious record of posting the worst figures between the two sides when he went for 7.4-0-96-1 in the CB Series competition in Hobart on February 28, 2012.
Venue Stats
India – played – 1, won – 1, lost – 0, tied – 0, no result – 0
Sri Lanka – played – 4, won – 2, lost – 2, tied – 0, no result – 0
Highest total in an innings: Sri Lanka 332/7 in 50.0 overs v Canada – February 20, 2011
Lowest total in an innings: Kenya 112 in 33.1 overs v Pakistan – February 23, 2011
Best individual score in an innings: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 133 v India – July 21, 2012
Best bowling figures in an innings: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 8.0-3-16-5 v Kenya – February 23, 2011
Head-to-head
|
Matches |
Played |
Ind won |
SL won |
Tied |
No result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
135 |
72 |
51 |
1 |
11 |
|
In Sri Lanka |
52 |
20 |
26 |
0 |
6 |
|
At Hambantota |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Form guide in ODIs (most recent listed first):
India: Won, Won, Lost, Won, Won (4 wins, 1 loss)
Sri Lanka: Lost, Won, Won, NR, Won (3 wins, 1 loss)
The Squads
India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ashok Dinda, Irfan Pathan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, & Rahul Sharma
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Thisara Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep
All stats are as on July 23, 2012
