On slow low wickets Lankans hold the key
After a wave of recent successes, the Angelo Mathew squadron of Sri Lanka cricket will be in a better frame of mind, than the high-credentialed South Africans, when they pit each other’s wits in the first One-Day International at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.
Angelo’s thirst for success - Pix by Amila Gamage
Lanka’s current run of success began in a horrific manner in early February when they managed to stumble upon two unlikely T20 victories over bottom-seeded Bangladesh. Sri Lanka won the first match by just two runs and the second in the last ball of the match after struggling at six down for just 50 runs at one stage of the game chasing a target of 120.
Like all good trees that even grow on sand, the Lankans grew – and then went on to win the ODI series (also going through some spasms prior to winning the first ODI by just 13 runs) 3-0 and then burst the seams to bag both the Asia Cup (ODI ) and the ICC T-20 World Championships on the same soil.
Then the recent memory of the England tour is fresh on mind. Sri Lanka beat the pommies in all segments of the game, but had the bad experience of seeing off spinner Sachithra Senanayake being reported about his action during the fourth ODI by the ICC staff.
Senanayake is now back in the squad to take on the Proteas. He went through a rigorous inspection session that lasted for several hours at the Cardiff Metropolitan University and it is reported that he is free to play until the report is released by the ICC. Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva told the Sunday Times: “We are expecting the report within two weeks of the tests. Until such time Senanayake is
AB seems to say: Hey, brother don’t ever think of it...
free to play and then everything will depend upon the findings”.
However, if the report is negative, Senanayake will have to seek a fresh date once again at a correctional facility and effect some changes to his bowling action. In the recent past the West Indian off spinner Shane Shillingford has gone through the same process.
Today’s is a day game and the toss will not matter so much like a day-night game at this venue; yet, as the pitch wears the proceedings will slow down and stroke making will become a hard task. At the same time the South Africans are sulking. A year ago they had one of their worst experiences on field when they crashed to a 4-1 defeat with one margin being as fat as 180 runs and another as big as 128 runs. But this time they do have the big hearted Jacques Kallis in their ranks and this would give them more muscle in the middle order, which did not fire during the last time out.
However the biggest problem that the Proteas will have is to get the maximum off their reputed seam attack on the slow low Sri Lankan wickets. Hitting the seam on the surface with a thud would not bring the desired results to Steyn and co. But they have included Vernon Philander into their ranks this time. Philander is not as fast the others but relies on movement. This man would have to be watched very closely.
South Africa did score a big 108 run win in their warm-up at Moratuwa on Thursday, but standard of their opposition would change by a big degree by the time of the toss this morning.
In the Lankan camp, if dashing opener Kusal Janith Perera fails the fitness test, the Lankan hierarchy may go for the opening slot with veteran Mahela Jayawardena, instead of Lahiru Thirimanne who has to thank his stars that he too has not joined the fallen Dinesh Chandimal with the ‘vice captain blues’. Even on local soil Thirimanne’s inning at the final of the Super Four tournament was not impressive. It was even worse at Moratuwa. But, both batsmen in question have the knack and the talent to overcome these blues.
According to skipper Mathews middle order batsman Kithruwan Vithanage who has been in the runs would step into the position that is generally held by Chandimal in the Lankan batting order.
On paper under local conditions, the Lankans have the edge, but, the credentials of the visitors are strong and they are a lot who has the wherewithal to match up to any challenge thrown at them. However, the visitors will pin most of their hopes on leg spinner Imran Thahir while the Lankans share their wits between, Herath, Senanayake and Mendis.
Sri Lanka (from): Angelo Mathews (Capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (V.Capt), T.M Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera (Subject to fitness), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Kithruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Upul Tharanga, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal
South Africa (from): AB de Villiers (Capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, David Miller, Morne Morkel , Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn.