The second ODI of the Micromax Cup tri-series will have the Sri Lankan side take on the Kiwis at Dambulla. New Zealand’s crushing win over India in the first game means that the side will play Sri Lanka as anything but the underdogs that the side had been touted as, at the start of the tournament.
New Zealand will wish for the conditions to be very similar to what they were in the previous game. One almost got the sense that the game was being played on a wet day at Wellington, because of which the ball swing around like a boomerang. India had to pay the price of bowling badly and losing the toss.mage>
Sri Lanka may be a totally different cup of tea, given that they have the experience of playing at Dambulla. However, what will be interesting to see is whether the groundsman decides to keep the grass on the wicket or shaves it off for this game, in which the Lankans will prefer playing two spinners.
If the grass is shaved off, then the composition of the side will be very different for both the teams. New Zealand will definitely get in an extra spinner into the line-up, something that was missing from the first game, whereas one will definitely see two spinners in the Sri Lankan eleven. Ajantha Mendis and Suraj Randiv should make the cut for the Lankans.
The other question is about the Lankan top-order and who will get selected. With the kind of wickets on offer and especially under the Dambulla lights, it will be logical to assume that Thilan Samaraweera will get selected in the side. Apart from him, the top-order should be easy to guess. Injuries aside, Upul Tharanga and T Dilshan should be the two openers, whereas Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkkara, Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews should form the top six. Thissara Perera should also get the nod, while the remaining four bowling spots will be shared by a couple of pace-men and two spinners.
New Zealand will not want to change their batting despite the early collapsed, but the bowling will depend on the conditions.
Sri Lanka should go in as favourites but if the conditions are even half as nasty as the previous game, it is difficult to call the winner.