Durham wicket will be batting friendly:

Lankans cannot afford to lose again

Hope D/L would not be called to play:

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

The Sri Lankan cricketers who were beaten by the fickle weather and bowled by that dreaded pair of Duckworth and Lewis, will play England in the Second of Five one-day internationals at the Riverside Ground, Chester le-Street in Durham, today. Hope D/L would not be called to play again.

After their victory over England in the Twenty20 at the Oval, the Lankan’s arrived at the same venue, confident that they could add to that success and dump England in the 50-over format.

But the weather gods batted, bowled and fielded with Duckworth and Lewis to help England and the end result was that the Lankans conceded the game by 81 runs to the home team.

Would have rued his decision

It is hoped that Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews has learnt. He won a lucky toss and asked England in and as the game progressed would have rued his decision.

It is not always that a coin turns in favour of a captain longing to win it. And when it does turn your way then that luck must be grabbed and the best use made of it.

Playing in their own backyard and in conditions known to them, England did not seem unduly worried when asked to bat. They knew a formidable score would have the Lankans on the ropes and to use boxing parlance knock them out in the end. And that is exactly what they did.

This being a day game, the Lankans will be looking for the sun on their backs to unwind. If the weather experienced at the Oval continues, then the Lankans won’t find it to their liking.

It is not likely that the Lankans would change the team that lost at the Oval and the batting lineup. ‘Same order, better batting’, will be the instructions from the skipper Mathews.

The Lankans are likely to persist with Vice Captain Lahiru Thirimanne to open again. If there is a change they could ask the experienced Mahela Jayewardene to face the new balls with Tillekeratne Dilshan.

Batsmen following - Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekera who are all capable batsmen should score runs. Big runs on the board is what is required, how they come is immaterial.

Leftie Sangakkara has played on the Durham strips and knows how they play. There will be the usual early movement. But if the batsmen watch the ball and get in line before executing, runs could be made.

As for the bowlers the one ton suffer most was Lasith Malinga who went for 721 runs in his 8 overs. It was one of those bad days for him and he will be determined to hit back and show who the master is.

The other pacies Kulasekera, Perera and Mathews must not experiment, but bowl line and length, pitch in the right areas and more importantly bowl wicket to wicket. Off spinner Sachitra Senanayake bowled best and he will trouble the batmen again.

Good fielding could compensate

Good fielding could compensate for bad bowling and batting. The Lankan fielders must grab the half chances and stem the runs so that the England batmen will have to risk.

Skipper Cook is not in the form he would like to be. Stroke makers the Lankan bowlers will have to watch are Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ravi Bopara and Jos Butler.

Left-hander Morgan has not got runs under his belt. If he strikes form could be devastating.

All rounder Chris Jordan is another who should be dismissed early. He showed his big hitting ability at the Oval and should not be allowed to repeat.

James Anderson, Jordan and off[-spinner James Tredwell are the wicket takers for England. Anderson is dangerous with new ball and moves it cleverly to fox the batsmen.

Chester le-Street,
Durham, Saturday.