Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Monday, 16 March 2015 03:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In 1999 Sri Lanka lost to India, South Africa and England and crashed out of the tournament after the 1st round. In 2003, although Sri Lanka beat two of the less fancied teams - New Zealand and West Indies - in the 1st round, they lost to Australia twice – in the Super Sixes and then in the semifinals - and India. Sri Lanka also tied with South Africa. These were three of the top teams in the tournament. In 2007 Sri Lanka did better. They beat India, England and West Indies and also beat New Zealand twice; in the Super Eights and in the semifinals. However, they lost twice to Australia; in the Super Eights and in the finals. They also lost to South Africa, who along with Australia were the strongest team in that tournament. In 2011, although they won against England and New Zealand (twice), they lost to two of the top teams - Pakistan and India (in the finals), and the game against Australia was abandoned due to rain.
The same pattern seems to have continued in 2015 as well. Sri Lanka beat an ordinary England but lost to two of the tournament favourites - New Zealand and Australia in the 1st round.
This, however, was not the case in 1996 when Sri Lanka beat two of the top teams – India (twice) and Australia – to win the World Cup.
Sri Lanka’s game against South Africa is the most interesting of the four quarter final games. The batsmen in both sides have been in fine form in this World Cup. These two teams have notched up the highest number of runs in the tournament so far; South Africa 1878 runs and Sri Lanka 1788. However, alarmingly, Sri Lankan bowlers have been quite expensive as well, conceding 1703 runs, the most by any team after Zimbabwe and Ireland! So it is notrocket science; their focus should be on bowling. Sri Lanka’s strategy of playing only three frontline bowlers - and sometimes shockingly two - has given them devastating results. It is a must that they play four frontline bowlers against the South African batting juggernaut.
Sri Lanka has never been known as a side capable of chasing huge totals. Sri Lanka’s strength has always been having variety in bowling. Sri Lanka should be well advised to know their limits and pick a side which could restrict a strong batting line up such as South Africa to a manageable total. Picking the extra batsmen is pointless anyway as Sri Lanka found out against Australia.
Sri Lanka need not fear too much about South African bowling; it is their batting that they should be worried about. Sri Lanka must find ways and means of getting A.B de Villiers out early. He along with the South African middle order can take the game away from SL after the 35th over.
This has been a batsman’s World Cup. Generally the expectation is that the score at the 30th over would get doubled after the completion of the innings. However, in this World Cup the score at the 35th over seems to be getting doubled! There could be several reasons for the huge totals that we have witnessed, but primarily it is the ridiculous fielding restrictions applicable during the non-batting power play overs that has contributed to this scenario. This is football’s equivalent of restricting the number of defenders in the penalty area to 2! The Sri Lankan bowling hasn’t helped either. They have leaked mountains of runs at the end overs. Australia rattled up 174 runs, New Zealand 134 and England 139 in the last 14 overs against Sri Lanka. Thisara Perera is not a wise option during this period. At best he could be used during the middle overs.
Sri Lanka loves playing in Sydney. The pitches at the SCG have had very little pace recently. If the pitch assists spin more than pace (which is very likely) Sri Lanka will start as favourites. Rangana Herath should be back in the side. Most of the South African batsmen are right handers, so Sri Lanka may persist with Prasanna’s leg spin. Nuwan Kulasekara should stay in the team. If Mathews is unable to bowl, Sri Lanka should bring in Sachithra or Chameera, depending on the pitch.
South Africa has never won a knock out game in any previous World Cups, so they will be nervous. Also they have two weak links. Firstly, they have a problem regarding their 5th bowling option. Imran Tahir has been bowling well but South Africa needs more spin options. Secondly, although South Africa has piled up massive totals batting first, they have failed when chasing targets set by quality teams.
The quarter final, and for that matter every game thereafter, is potentially Kumar Sangakkara’s final ODI and Mahela Jayawardene’s final international game. Their team mates owe it to them to take Sri Lanka all the way. And this time Sri Lanka cannot expect to reach the finals through the back door. Nor have they found any favours from the draw either. They have to beat the best from now onwards. If they win the quarter final game against the formidable South Africans, they will most probably meet the tournament favorites New Zealand in the semifinal in Auckland.
The moment of truth has arrived for Sri Lanka.
