Published: Sep 03, 2016, 06:18 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 04, 2016, 10:52 AM (IST)
Sri Lanka are all set to play for pride as they lock horns for the final One-Day International (ODI) against Australia at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Sunday. Australia have survived from the ashes of Test whitewash and reclaimed their No. 1 ODI spot by clinching the five-ODI series with lead of 3-1. Sri Lanka were unable to ride on their Test success and will hope to end their campaign on positive note. In the previous ODI, everything went right for the visitors with brilliant bowling backed by outstanding batting. Aaron Finch was at his best as he went all guns blazing securing fastest fifty off just 19 deliveries or John Hastings 6-fer to bowl out Sri Lanka for 212. Full Cricket Scorecard: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 5th ODI at Pallekele
Sri Lanka’s poor batting needs to take a U-turn: The top-order has been out of sorts for a very long time. Various experimentations by the home side have failed and have not provided the expected results. The task has been well handled by Australia bowlers mainly being Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon in Test and now John Hastings into existence in ODIs along with Starc. Sri Lankan batsmen have been rattled by the fast bowlers in the ODIs and now with the absence of their experienced entity Tillakaratne Dilshan out of the picture and unfortunate injury of skipper Angelo Mathews, it is a mountain task for Sri Lanka.
Danushka Gunathilaka has been the scapegoat for Starc most of the time. Bringing Kusal Perera at the top has not worked wonders either. Dhananjaya de Silva, who brought no luck in the middle found to be effective at the top. In contrast, the much talked about Avishka Fernando had tough time and fell for the pace attack of Starc. Sri Lanka might just stick with the same opening batsmen and give Fernando yet another chance, after providing his younger team victory against England in Under-19 series.
With no Mathews, the onus definitely falls on Dinesh Chandimal. With 235 runs so far in this ODI series, Chandimal is at the top as leading run-scorer for Sri Lanka. He will be expected to finish off with flying colours and help his side win the final ODI in an upbeat manner. Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis can be effective in the middle-order as witnessed in the second ODI, when hosts won by 82 runs against visitors. Thisara Perera’s hard-hitting played a crucial role and now in his absence Sri Lanka will need to buckle up and can bring Sachith Pathirana ahead after his knock 24 that included 2 fours. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka vs Australia: ODI series expose hosts’ lack of batting depth
Sri Lanka will want their leading run-scorers like Chandimal, Mendis, Kusal Perera and de Silva to bring back their A game and also expect Gunathilaka, Fernando and Pathirana to step forward if they need to win the final ODI. With inclusion of Niroshan Dickwella, the top-order might receive a boost after his recent scores of 51, 44, and 60 in List A matches against Pakistan A. But knowing the experience that will be required at the moment, Upul Tharanga will be the best pick at the top to bring some momentum.
Sri Lanka bowlers need to continue the rhythm without their heroes: Mathews and T Perera have handed Sri Lanka most wickets. When hosts won the second ODI against Australia, the credit belonged to Thisara grabbing crucial wickets of David Warner, Finch and Matthew Wade. On most occasions the key to success for Sri Lanka has belonged to spinners, be it in the form of newbie Amilo Aponso, Dilruwan Perera, chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan, Seekkuge Prasanna and de Silva. With no Thisara, Mathews and Sandakan, enters Upul Tharanga and all-rounder Dasun Shanaka.
Aponso has proved his worth and has more or less sealed his spot in Sri Lanka squad after his 4-for in second ODI. He has continued his good run of picking wickets at regular intervals, although he remained unlucky in the previous ODI. Dilruwan has been constant with a wicket or two in every match, scalping 6 wickets in this ODI series and will be expected to take bigger strides as witnessed in Test series. He can prove to be handy with the bat as well.
Prasanna has grabbed two wickets in this series while de Silva has been handed over just a wicket. Sri Lanka will need to beat the odds and provide chance to their new comer Angelo Perera who is known to be fast bowler, who got an opportunity to bowl just one over in the previous ODI. Pathirana was on a high with his performance in the previous ODI after his knock of 24 and three-wicket haul. With inclusion of Dasun Shanaka (the one who picked fifer against Ireland in ODI series), it only gets better, as his medium pace can break the Australia batting unit. He is yet another all-rounder to build up the morale of the batting unit.
Pallekele Stadium was lucky enough for Sri Lanka during the Test series and provided them victory in the first Test. Sri Lanka will be hopeful that this stadium provides them victory towards the end series as well. As for the past record, Sri Lanka have won nine times out of 18 matches held here. As for their opponent Australia, Sri Lanka lost against them once in 2011 by margin of 7 wickets. ALSO READ: George Bailey: Underrated yet undeterred campaigner for Australia
Australia will continue to be wary of the hosts knowing that they are coming with two consecutive defeats. Sri Lanka will want to continue their fight and pose threat to the visitors in the final match. A top-order contribution may make it up for an all-round show. A new resurgent team will need to bring their best game forward under Chandimal’s guidance.
