Sri Lanka take the field against the Australians with the knowledge
that a defeat here will put their qualification hopes beyond their own hands.
Sri lanka have been off colour throughout the tour and victory against
Australia cricket outift in the upcoming One Day International
will give the Lankan lions one last hope of pulling up an improbable march towards
the finals .
Click for Live Score Card of Australia vs Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have been rather poor throughout this series and
have in general failed to live up the hype that surrounded them before the tourney.
Sanath Jayasurya is finally feeling the weight of his age a bit too much
and the evergreen batsman has shed some of his colour during this trip with
some rather unforgettable performances. Only Kumara Sangakarra has come out
with some dignity intact and it was his 128 in the previous match that gave
the Lankans such a huge hope of pulling one across team India. However, the
middle order looks rather shallow and should any of the top three fail Sri Lanka
do tend to struggle for runs. The bowling attack deserves applause as they have
tied down opposing teams to good measure and the trio of Chaminda Vaas, Malinga
and Muralitharan are proving to be a potent force for the Sri Lankan outfit.
The two wicket loss against India last time around did put Sri Lanka at the
bottom of the CB Series charts and having built up a huge six point deficit
with India, the Lankans know that victory is a must if they wish to keep the
game level on their terms.
Australia on the other hand, need just a victory to reach the
finals of this annual triangular series for the seventh consecutive time. Australia
have found their touch in recent games and though the batting remains wobbly,
there is still talent and potential in great numbers there. The middle order
of Andrew Symonds, Ricky Pointing and Hussey have been quiet all tour and will
be hoping to flex their arms before the final with their third win on the trot
over Sri Lanka. Australia's bowling has been bang on target all summer in the
CB Series and with the likes of Nathan Bracken, Brett Lee, Johnson and
Brad Hogg, Australia remain confident of defending low scores like they managed
to do against India last time around. Australia lead the standing with seventeen
points, ten ahead of Sri Lanka with two bonus points and will be itching to
make it twenty three with yet another victory this coming Friday 22nd of February
2008 at the MCG.
Catch up with the live scores, news and updates from this
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