Decisive ODIs at Premadasa Stadium

Sri Lanka, having lost the three-Test series one-two, will get a good chance to bounce back and win the five-match One Day International series when they take on Pakistan in the third ODI to be played under lights at R. Premadasa Stadium today.

The two back to back ODIs at R. Premadasa Stadium on today and Wednesday would turn out to be the decisive encounters of the five-match ODI series. But the Lankan fans would hope that their fancied team would not suffer the same nightmare they had suffered in the three-Test series.

When Sri Lanka won the second Test to level the series after Pakistan had made the first blood, many thought that the home team would pocket the Test series. But it was not so as Pakistan came from nowhere to win the third Test and with it the three-match series.

Similarly, Pakistan took an early lead in the ODI series by winning the opening game at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. But Sri Lanka bounced back to find the equalizer win in the second ODI played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium last Wednesday.

Sri Lanka must not throw away this golden opportunity as they had done in the Test series. If Angelo Mathews and his lads could capitalize on their morale-boosting victory at Pallekele, they could well stage a magnificent fight back at Premadasa Stadium.

If either Sri Lanka or Pakistan could win both the games at Premadasa Stadium, that team could take a winning lead in the five-match series, irrespective of the outcome of the fifth ODI at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa on July 26. Sri Lanka has a good chance of making that dream run, if they could maintain the same rhythm.

Chandi regains confidence

It was heartening to see Dinesh Chandimal regaining his confidence to be among runs. He has done that in style, with two impressive innings in the first two ODIs. Having made a top score of 65 not out off 68 balls with one six and five fours in Dambulla, Chandimal made another unbeaten 48 off 63 balls at Pallekele.

His brave 48 not out demolished all Pakistan attempts to stage a comeback in the second ODI. Although Sri Lanka got off to a blistering start with openers Kusal Perera and Thillakaratne Dilshan adding 92 runs for the first wicket in only 8.2 overs, Pakistan came back strongly by capturing the first five Lankan wickets with the addition of only 67 runs within 16 overs.

If not for Chandimal's brave innings, the solid foundation laid by Kusal and Dilshan would well have gone down the drain. Had Pakistan bowlers got Chandimal early, they would have well taken a 2-0 lead in the series.

The rock-solid batting of Chandimal took Sri Lanka towards the victory with 11 balls to spare. Despite early fireworks, Sri Lanka dragged themselves to turbulent situation needing 92 runs off 112 balls with only four wickets in hand.

Full credit should go to debutants Milinda Siriwardena (26 off 28 balls) and Sachith Pathirana (33 off 28 balls) for the manner in which they faced Pakistani bowlers under pressure.

The aggressive batting of Kusal, who massacred Pakistan bowlers to score his 50 in just 17 balls to equal Sanath Jayasuriya's Sri Lanka record and former world record, was a treat to watch.

Although Mohammad Irfan used some extra bounce to pose a little threat, the in-form batsman maintained an extraordinary strike-rate of 242.85. Kusal proved that Sri Lanka is not starved of master blasters even after retirements of Sanath and Romesh Kaluvitharana who invented the art of modern pinch-hitting.

Kusal's innings which equaled Jayasuriya's record of the fastest ODI fifty by a Sri Lanka batsman, made the target of 288 set by Pakistan look a cakewalk. At the same time, we must admire the courage that freshers Milinda and Sachith had to handle pressure during the latter part of the Lankan innings.

Sachith had an impressive ODI debut and it would be interesting to see how this 26-year-old Trinity lion would progresses in the matches to come. In addition to his useful contribution and partnership with Chandimal, he also bagged two wickets in his first ever ODI, including the prized wicket on Mohammed Hafeez, who cracked a match-winning century in the first ODI.

Sri Lanka must concentrate on their middle order batting and should take a stock on their mistakes especially in the second ODI. The hosts lost four middle order wickets with the addition of only 19 runs - most of them due to their own mistakes, with Upul Tharanga being caught napping by an indipper from Rahat Ali.

Had it not been for Chandimal's knock and support he had got from the two new lads, the early exits of skipper Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne would have become costly. Mathews called for a single and was halfway down the pitch before he found that Thirimanne was not responding.

Angelo must have a better understanding and should handle such situations far more intelligently.

Series of blunders

Thirimanne added to the series of Lankan blunders, slicing a catch to Anwer Ali at deep third man off Rahat Ali. Pakistan's chances of winning the second ODI looked brighter at this stage as Sri Lanka slumped to 159 for 5 in the 25th over. But Chandimal and Milinda put Lanka back in the picture with a 37-run alliance.

The manner in which Chandimal batted was a good example for emerging schoolboy cricketers and youngsters who are aspiring to enter the big league.

His innings was a blend of patience as well as aggression. Associating in two useful partnerships with two debutants, Chandimal made sure that the required rate always remains within their reach.

Chandimal knew that he was holding the key to Sri Lanka's success and the team desperately needed him to hold from one end.

The fact that 32 of his 48 runs had come from singles shows the patience had in going for the target while maintaining the required run-rate.

He made sure that Sri Lanka does not expose their last man and refrained from going for a big rash stroke to complete what would have been a deserving half century. Not only he was uninterested in completing a half century but he was also he also refrained from attempting to signal his team's victory with a big hit.

Chandimal was only focused in piloting his team towards victory, not mere personal milestone or becoming an instant hero with a massive six! That was a classic example.

The Lankan team must make every effort to consolidate on Wednesday's victory to take an inspiring lead in the five-match ODI series. A victory before a holiday crowd today will definitely give them a distinct advantage in their attempt to win the series.

They should not wait until the last game and drag the contest all the way to Sooriyawewa to decide the series.

If Mathews and his men come out with their best, they could well pocket the series at Premadasa Stadium and be in a position to offer a consolation win to the visitors at Sooriyawewa.