Preview: SL v Ind – 3rd ODI
First Published : 27 Jul 2012, 14:14
Last Modified : 28 Jul 2012, 11:31
What
The third ODI of the five-match series between India and Sri Lanka
When
July 28, 2012. The game begins at 14:30 IST.
Where
R. Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo. Statistically, this is the best of the three grounds used in the series, for the hosts. Sri Lanka have a win percentage of 66.66 (excluding no result games) in Colombo, which dips to 60 and 50 percent at Hambantota and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium respectively. Also, Sri Lanka won both their recent ODI games against Pakistan played here; an average score of 245 was posted in the first innings.
The Teams
India need to begin well, both on the bowling and batting fronts. The visitors have lost their opening wicket for 7 and 31 runs respectively in the previous two games. Where Gautam Gambhir failed in the first ODI, Virender Sehwag disappointed after getting off to a brisk start in the second. Rohit Sharma too needs to deliver if he wants to silence the growing clamour to replace him with Manoj Tiwary. Besides that, with the Sri Lankan openers having gone after the Indian new-ball bowlers in the second ODI, it may not be a bad idea to open the bowling with R Ashwin just to throw a new challenge to the opposition.
Sri Lanka put in a near flawless performance in the second ODI. Their pace attack, led by Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews, was able to bowl out the Indians cheaply while their openers made short work of the target with a 119-run opening stand. Isuru Udana’s 42 runs from six overs could be considered the sole blemish, but even that could be put down to nerves since it was the left-arm paceman’s first ODI. Barring the temptation to replace Udana with Nuwan Pradeep, who incidentally is yet to play an ODI game, the hosts are likely to play an unchanged side at Colombo.
Key Players
Virat Kohli seems to be the key to India’s fortunes. Two contrasting scores by him in the first two ODIs (106, 1) have arguably been the difference for India. Also, with Gambhir and Sehwag struggling to string together an opening stand, there is added pressure on Kohli to perform at No. 3.
Although Angelo Mathews has had just one innings with the bat, the all-rounder is making his presence felt for the hosts in this series as a bowler. Mathews’ economy-rate of 4.23 is the best for any bowler on either team who has bowled a minimum of 10 overs in this series so far.
Trivia
India – Should the visitors play an unchanged side from the second game, Rohit Sharma’s ODI batting average of 17.33 in 2012 will be the lowest of all the batsmen in the top six. Sharma has only one half-century score (68) against Pakistan in Dhaka to show for his nine innings in 2012.
Sri Lanka – Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera, with 38 and 28 wickets respectively, are the top two ODI wicket-takers for 2012. Malinga has collected 38 scalps in 25 matches while Perera’s 28 have come in just 16 games. Australia’s Clint McKay, with 27 victims from 17 matches, is third on the list.
Venue Stats
India – played – 39, won – 17, lost – 18, tied – 0, no result – 4
Sri Lanka – played – 88, won – 54, lost – 27, tied – 0, no result – 7
Highest total in an innings: India 363/5 in 50.0 overs v Sri Lanka – February 3, 2009
Lowest total in an innings: Netherlands 86 in 29.3 overs v Sri Lanka – September 16, 2002
Best individual score in an innings: Gautam Gambhir (India) – 150 v Sri Lanka – February 5, 2009
Best bowling figures in an innings: Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 6.0-0-20-6 v India – September 12, 2009
Head-to-head
|
Matches |
Played |
Ind won |
SL won |
Tied |
No result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
136 |
72 |
52 |
1 |
11 |
|
In Sri Lanka |
53 |
20 |
27 |
0 |
6 |
|
At R. Premadasa Stadium |
29 |
11 |
15 |
0 |
3 |
Form guide in ODIs (most recent listed first)
India: Lost, Won, Won, Lost, Won (2 losses, 3 wins)
Sri Lanka: Won, Lost, Won, Won, NR (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 and 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 and Nuwan Pradeep
All stats are as on July 27, 2012
