Lankans must move in for the kill as Windies are down

Elmo Rodrigopulle in West Indies

CRICKET: It's going to be a mouth-watering game between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the providence stadium here in Guyana on Sunday.

The climate here is akin to what it is in Sri Lanka. The predicted thunderstorms have not materialised and conditions are excellent for cricket.

All Guyana are agog weighing the pros and cons of this game, and the consensus is that the West Indies will suffer another defeat that will end their Cup hopes.

At the moment Windies cricket is in turmoil after their two defeats to Australia and new Zealand. Many critics query the selections, among them being two fast bowling legends of the past Micheal Holding and Andy Roberts. Roberts is a selector and he and Lara trades words in separate interviews after the team lost to New Zealand.

Now that the Windies are down, but not yet out, the Lankans must move in for the kill and knock them out and earn vital points and keep progressing.

Here in Guyana, everyone is talking and reliving that fearsome spell by Lasith Malinga whose four wickets in four balls created history. It is usually Chaminda Vaas or Muttiah Muralitharan who hug the limelight with their bowling efforts. It is nice to see Malinga taking centre stage.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene, won the toss and batted against South Africa. It is unlikely that if he calls correctly this time round that he will want to take first strike.

The wicket that has been kept covered is sure to have the early moisture which helps the fast men. Batting and losing early wickets puts the onus on the middle batting. Tillekeratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold came good with a 97-run stand which added respectability to the total. But that 209 was not threatening, until Malinga unwound.

Sri Lanka's early batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva must bat with more responsibility.

What the Lankans must guard against is losing wickets to silly run-outs. Silva who had three half centuries previously, ran himself out attempting a single that was not there which saw Herchelle Gibbs run him out Jonty Rhodes style with a dive.

Jayawardena is handling the side very admirably. His bowling changes and field placings have come in praise. He reads the game well and his every move is well thoughtout and has the backing of the team. While the bowlers have played their part well, it is now up to the Lankan batsmen to give the bowlers a imposing total to bowl at.

The West Indies batsmen are not striking the way we know they can. They get off to a good start, but the rest of the batting tend to choke as was seen in their games against Australia and New Zealand.

Skipper Brian Lara is the only batsman in form. But he has not been making the big scores he is capable of. Opener Chris Gayle is hopelessly out of form. Shiv Chandrapaul, the two Dwaynes - Bravo and Smith have failed and it has gone to cause their batting problems.

In bowling their main strike bowlers - Powell, Smith and Colymore have not among the wickets which show that there weakness in the side which could be exploited.