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| Edited By: Dilip Vengsarkar |Source: DNA |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 02:53 AM IST
It’s going to be a battle of giants as Australia and Sri Lanka — finalists of the 2007 World Cup — cross swords at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. Both teams would want to win at any cost and establish their supremacy in the mega tournament.
Australia and Sri Lanka have played fantastic cricket in the last one decade or so and I doff my hat to the Sri Lankans for giving the Aussies a run for their money. Matches between these sides are keenly contested and if you are an ardent follower of the game, you don’t want to miss this one.
Both teams look solid on paper, though I feel the Aussies have a slight edge over the hosts. However, whoever plays better on that particular day is bound to win.
Sri Lanka’s loss to Pakistan earlier in the tournament must have left them utterly disappointed. That defeat must have acted like a wake-up call, reminding them that they need to pull up their socks. I am sure the Lankans will be much more alert when they take on the defending champions on Saturday.
Batsmen are making merry by helping their sides post 300-plus scores, but even then, victory isn’t guaranteed.
I feel bowlers will call the shots and teams with better attacks will be more superior. In that respect, the Sri Lankans must be hoping that M&M — Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan — deliver the goods.
The Aussies have the likes of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson to extract reverse swing and bowl slower ones at the death. Surely, it’s going to be a battle of nerves.
The Aussies should know that Sri Lanka would be under more pressure as they have lost a game already. The Aussies are masters at such tactics.
The hosts, on the other hand, must be aware that there is no margin for error against a team like Australia. Basically, Sri Lanka will have to be on top of their game right from the word go.
The hosts will be hoping that Ricky Ponting’s below-par — by his standards, that is — form continues. And if they can get him early, Lanka will surely call the shots. Over to Colombo.
