Lankans must be... RUTHLESS Don’t underestimate the Kiwis:

Jacob Oram

RUTHLESS. That must be the idea when he Sri Lankans take the field against New Zealand in the first semi-final of the 2011 World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium under lights today. The Lankans have performed creditably so far to come into this position. Now that they are two matches away from the pot of gold they should not drop their guard, until the knockout blow is delivered.

What is the need of the hour is that we not allow complacency to spoil the good and hard work done. The Lankans if they believe in their ability and perform at peak, should beat the Kiwis and celebrate the entry into the final. And there is no reason why they should not.

No easy beats

They will do well not to take the Kiwis lightly and think they are easy beats. The South Africans thought it was a walk in the Park, took it easy dropped their guard and the Kiwis grabbed the opportunity to feign and deliver the knockout blow and paste the ‘chokers’ tag on them.

Now that the Kiwis are in the semis, they will come out firing heavy artillery and the Sri Lankans must not only defend, but fire back stingers to destroy the push.

Before going on to comment and analyze the two teams and their chances, the Lankan fielders will do well no to repeat the shameless catching they displayed against England.

Comedy of catching

It was a comedy to watch Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath grass simple catches. Probably it would have been their off day.
Read more

But the coaches would have made them work over time at the nets, told them not to take their eyes off the ball until it is firmly held.

It was a sad indictment on the England batsmen, especially Eoin Morgan for failing to capitalize on those missed chances and attempting to consolidate and take the game away from the Lankans.

The toss will once again have a say in this game. Winning it and batting first and running up a formidable score, will be to put the pressure on the side chasing.

Good wicket

Curator Anura Polonwita got the message and got up a good wicket. We hope skipper Kumar Sangakkara will now have a change of heart and not make comments that could hurt the curator.

For not being able to score or take wickets the blame should not be on the wicket on the curator. It is the player who is at fault for not being able to adjust with correct technique.

To the game that will be played to full house of wildly cheering and deafening sound making cricket crazy Sri Lankan supporters, winning and winning at all cost will be the bottom line. Not to do so would be a calamity.

Sound opening

Once again it will be the hope that openers Upul Tharanga and Tillekeratne Dilshan will continue their good form with the bat and put up another sound opening. They have the strokes to strike fear into the opponents bowlers.

They should not try to bang the bowling from ball one. Easy does it should be their approach. They settled down first against England and once they got their eyes in, strokes and runs flowed freely. Batsmen following Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Chamara Silva, Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews must come good. For Samaraweeta and Silva especially, this is a must score game.

No tinkering

The Lankans are not likely to tinker with their winning combination which means they will again go in looking to win with spin. Muralitheran, Mendis and Herath must spin and spin viciously to undo the Kiwis.

The Kiwi batsmen looked novices when facing Muralitheran’s ‘doosra’ in their previous meeting in India.

But they would have learnt by now and should cope with this delivery that goes the other way with an off break action and be among the runs.

Once again the Kiwis will look to their front liners - Brendon McCallum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptil, Ross Taylor. Jacob Oram, Scott Styris and Daniel Vettori to pile up a big total.

Best of form

Taylor is in the best of form and getting him out before he settles down will be a bonus. If he is allowed to cut loose, then he will inspire the rest of the batting.

Opening with spin is now in vogue and Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori will handle the new ball and Sri Lanka too are likely to stick to Lasith Malinga and Tillekeratne Dilshan.

James Franklin, Scott Styriss and Jacob Oram have it in them to lure the Lankan batsmen into a run drought.

The spin of Nathan McCallum should be of worry to the Lankan batsmen. After all is said and done victory will come to the team, that does the basics right, able to hold their nerve and ride the pressure. Advantage Lanka. Don’t underestimate the Kiwis.

Courtesy - Daily News by Elmo Rodrogopulle