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| Sunday, 1 August 2004 |
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Both Sri Lanka, India oiled for Asia Cup final by Ranjan Anandappa A cup final played at the R.Premadasa Stadium under lights somehow produces an aura of it's own, and the Indian Oil Asia Cup final between Sri Lanka and India will be no exception when they meet today. Both teams are fully 'oiled' for the competition with key players of either side making their appearance for this all important contest. V. V. S. Laxman of India has been declared fit after his knee injury and India has the seventh batsman that they were looking for. India will go for the seven batsmen, three fastmen and a spinner composition with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar proving themselves as more than useful spinners. For Sri Lanka, their two most experienced bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas will be back in the side. Young paceman Lasith Malinga and Saman Jayantha will make way for them. Sri Lanka has won the previous two finals played on home soil when they beat Pakistan in 1986 at the SSC under Duleep Mendis sans India, and again in 1997 under Arjuna Ranatunga when they beat India by 8 wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium. After seven years can Sri Lanka produce a hat-trick of wins in their own back yard? The Lankans have been impressive so far in the tournament losing only once. That, too to the Indians a week ago in an absorbing contest. Modern day cricket no longer resembles the cricket played in the past. There is no guarantee of a safe score and India with so much of depth in their batting clearly displays that batting is their forte. Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh all are quite devastating batsmen. Sehwag in addition to his batting has proved his prowess as a match winning slow bowler. India will be desperately looking to include Laxman to strengthen their batting. Laxman was sidelined by an injury and did not play in any of the key matches. The Lankans will surely be breathing a sigh of relief as their opener Sanath Jayasuriya has sprung back to form and batting in his own authentic style. Sri Lanka too has seven batsmen, three fast bowlers and a spinner with the occasional slow stuff from Jayasuriya and Dilshan. Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Avishka Gunawardena, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, T.M.Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan. India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, V. V. S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra. Umpires: David Shepherd (England), Billy Bowden (New Zealand). TV Umpire: Akthar Shaheen (Bangladesh), Fourth umpire: Peter Manuel (Sri Lanka). Prize money: Winner of the Tournament: US$ 60,000. Runner-up: US$ 40,000. Man-of-the-Series: US$ 7,000 (Awarded by ACC) Maruti Esteem (Awarded by Maruti). |
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