Afghans no pushovers:

Lankans must get back into winning streak

Chandimal and Chameera could play:

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from New Zealand

The Sri Lankans who were beaten in the first game against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch will be looking to pull this one off when they take on Afghanistan in a Pool ‘A’ match today. The Sri Lankans were expected to be worthy competitors to New Zealand and Lankan supporters were confident that they had it in them to force an upset victory.

But the Lankans came a cropper. That defeat came about by poor bowling and fielding. When Captain Courageous won the toss the conditions were overcast and ideal for seam and swing bowling.

Came out in poor light

When Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekera were expected to revel in those conditions, they came out in poor light with some innocuous and wayward bowling. They seemed to have forgotten what seam and swing bowling was all about and sprayed the new balls all over.

Kulasekera and Malinga were taken to the cleaners as the saying goes by all the frontline New Zealand batsmen shown the way by Captain Brendon McCullum. Kulasekera went for 78 runs and Malinga for 84 runs. Unacceptable considering their standards.

It is hoped that bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and bowling consultant Rumesh Ratnayake two former seam and swing greats would have hammered it into Malinga and Chameera and told and shown them how and here’s hoping they’ll do better.

Kulasekera benched

There is the possibility of the selectors on tour benching Kulasekera for this game and pushing in pace bowler Dhusmantha Chameera and also bringing in Dinesh Chandimal for Dimuth Karunaratne. But those decisions would be made only before Mathew walks out to toss. Sri Lanka must also up their fielding, both on the ground and in the air. At this level and in a vital tournament like this, if the fielding is poor there’s no future. There’s no excuse for poor fielding.

If the coin turns Mathews’ way, then he must not hesitate to bat first. Batting first and putting up a formidable score could put the pressure on the side chasing.

Something to ponder on

Here’s something for Mathews to ponder on if and when he win the toss.This is what the famous Dr.W. G. Grace says about winning the toss:‘When you win the toss bat. If you are in doubt, think about it then bat. If you have very big doubts, consult a colleague then bat’. Once again Sri Lanka’s three main run getters Tillekeratne Dilshan,Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayewardena must mak runs. Jayawardena had arare failure in the first game being out for no score.

It is good to see Vice Captain Lahiru Thirimanne opening the batting and making runs. He seems to be settled opening the batting and had a successful opening with 65 against the Kiwis. His cover driving is exquisite.

Not making runs

Pity that Dimuth Karunaratne is not making runs when opening or batting in the middle. He is highly talented and this tour should be a learning experience for him. He need not be disappointred.

The war-torn Afghans must be admired for keeping to the game. They stretched Bangladesh before losing and they have some formidable cricketers and the Lankans will do well not to think that they are just push overs.

This is the ideal game for the Lankans to get back into Winning Street before flying to Melbourne to meet another side that could upset, Bangladesh at the MCG on February 26.

DUNEDIN OVAL, NEW ZEALAND, SATURDAY