Sri Lanka vs India Third ODI 2008: Focus Rests on Batsmen

After India’s 3-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the five match ODI series, the series is now at standstill, with both sides winning a match so far. So, the upcoming third ODI is a good chance for either side to take a lead in the series. Now, ahead of the third ODI, set to take place at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 24 August 2008, India and Sri Lanka are now concerned with their top order batting line up. Following two low-scoring matches in Dambulla, the focus is now naturally on batsmen. Except the Sri Lankan innings in the first match, the top order batsmen in either side failed to win any momentum so far in the ODI series.

Cricinfo reported:

Sangakkara feels the responsibility will be on the top order. “If one of them bats into the 40th over and beyond, the side is going to get a large score,” he told Cricinfo. “That is the kind of attitude that top-order players should carry into a match. A team then has one player who they can bat around and it gives the late middle-order a chance to attack. It is a foundation on which to build a huge score.”

The ongoing series has seen only one half-century so far that came in the first match when Mahela Jayawardene played a captain’s knock 61. Given the fact that both sides have a number of star batsmen, the focus now rests on the batsmen ahead of the third ODI. The good news for the batsmen is that the wicket of Premadasa is helpful for the batsmen, considering the past record of the stadium.