India enter into Match day XI against Sri Lanka this coming Tuesday
in Hobart needing a win to secure entry into the finals of the CB Series.
India are currently six points ahead of Sri Lanka and with the Lankans in dire
straits, India will be hoping to wrap up qualification process with a victory.
Click for Live Score Card of India vs Sri Lanka
India have been competitive throughout this year and although they have lost
out to Australia twice and Sri lanka once, team India have in general
given an excellent account of themselves. India nearly secured qualification
last time around against Australia when they fought bravely to reach within
eighteen runs of Australia's mammoth target of 318 after failing behind at 51/4
at one stage. Gautam Gambhir has come of age in this tour and his century last
night would have given the Indian batting lineup a lot of confidence. Robin
Uthappa also shined lower down the order and although the top order has been
dysfunctional throughout the series, the hard hitting poweress possessed by
the lower order makes the Indian batting line up a formidable one. In the bowling
department, Ishant Sharma has been headway and is expected to play a big part
against Sri Lanka. Sreesanth however has disappointed everyone throughout the
series and he is expected to be replaced by Munaf Patel for this critical clash.
The likes of Manoj Tewary and Suresh Raina may be selected for this clash but
all that depends on a late decision of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to
pick or drop struggling Rohit Sharma.
Sri Lanka on the other hand are down in the dumps and are feeling the lack of
a solid middle order immensely. Kumar Sangakarra has been the lone star
for the Sri Lankans and captain Mahela Jayawardena will be hard pressed to find
better middle order batsmen to give the southpaw company. However, in Sanath
Jayasurya and Mahela Jayawardena they still have two of the finest stroke makers
in world cricket and on their day the Sri Lankan top three can bludgeon any
bowling attack around the world and the same would be hoped for in this clash.
Sri Lanka are currently bottom of the table in the CB series and need to win
both their remaining matches if they are to progress to the next round Sri lanka's
bowling attack has been brilliant all tour and with Lasith Malinga and Chaminda
Vaas in fine form, the Sri Lankans will be confident of out bowling India in
this crucial clash on the 26th of February 2008 at Hobart.
Watch India thwart an inspired Sri Lanka outfit along with other cricket
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