TAR Sports commentator and former India wicket-keeper Vijay Dahiyafeels, "Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura committed a blunder in putting Lanka in to bat on a track which is full of runs. More so against a batting powerhouse like Lanka. If the African side had opted to bat, they could have at least put up a decent total on the board and then put some sort of pressure on the Lions. I don't think bowlers can do anything about the destruction that the openers are causing except wait for them to make a mistake."
It appears Tillakratne Dilshan is still angry over his spat with Australia pacer Shaun Tait and it is reflecting in his brutal approach. The opener is playing like a man possessed, hitting boundaries at will. Zimbabwe bowlers simply going through the motion.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura earlier won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka in their ICC CWC match in Kandy.
MATCH PREVIEW
By Rajarshi Gupta in Kandy
Obviously, it is a must-win game for the co-hosts, who have somehow managed to get themselves in a bit of a spot with a defeat against Pakistan. Sharing a point with the defending world champions would not have helped matters either. But against the Africans, Kumar Sangakkara's men have an opportunity to win it big.
Besides the two points, the net run rate will get a shot in the arm too. In case, the running for the quarter-final gets close, this is what will work out to be a deciding factor.
Sri Lanka looked up for it too. They trained with intensity and purpose- allowing themselves the odd chuckle during the fielding drills. Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillekaratne Dilshan and Ajantja Mendis were the sharpest of the lot while strangely Lasith Malinga worked hard on his batting and kept the net bowlers busy well after the rest of the team had wrapped up practice. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara had long sessions at the net too even as Muralitharan and Malinga bowled at the stumps, trying to get their lines right.
Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram had showed Pakistan what can happen to the best of bowlers if they err in length on a good pitch in Pallekele. Zimbabwe do boast of some good strikers of the cricket ball and Sri Lanka would want to be careful rather than sorry.
Sangakkara might also want his middle-order to score some runs and more importantly, the skipper would be looking at Dilshan to get back into some sort of form ahead of the more crucial games in the ICC CWC. Zimbabwe will be, without doubt, intimidated in a packed stadium and the Lankans should look to make the most of it.
Zimbabwe have a challenge in their hands and the pressure of a hostile crowd is the least of it. A spirited but inexperienced group of players lined against one of the pre-tournament favourites always have an awkward job at hand. Facing the likes of Malinga and Muralithran can never be easy and negotiating them in an ICC CWC encounter will take a lot out of Zimbabwe batsmen.
Ray Price and Mpofu would be keen to put the Lankan batting order under some trouble. Two early wickets and who knows! Zimbabwe are a good fielding side and they will need to be at their best to stop a run-riot on Thursday.
The pitch will allow the ball to come nicely to the bat and the team batting first, much like the Kiwis, should look to keep some wickets in hand for a late assault. Indeed, Sri Lanka are overwhelming favourites to take the two points but if Coventry or Taylor get going and Taibu drops anchor, there could be an interesting evening to look forward to.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in ODIs/World Cup
ODIs
Sri Lanka have won 38 and lost seven out of 46 contested - winning % 84.44. Zimbabe's winning % is 15.55 (NR 1)
World Cup
Sri Lanka have won all four games played at the world cup between 1992 and 2003.
Overall World Cup
Sri Lanka have won 27 and lost 31 out of 61 contested - winning % 46.61 (Tied 1 & NR 2).
Zimbabwe have won 9 and lost 35 out of 48 contested - winning % 21.11 (Tied 1 & NR 3).
Approaching milestones
- Kumar Sangakkara (8940) needs 60 runs to complete his 9,000 runs in ODIs.
- In case of a fifty, Sangakkara (6) would equal Sri Lanka's record of most fifties at the world cup. Arjuna Ranatunga holds a Sri Lankan record for most fifties (7) at the world cup while the record for most fifty-plus is held by Sanath Jayasuriya. He has recorded three centuries and six fifties.
- Mahela Jayawardene (8975) requires 25 runs to complete 9000 runs for Sri Lanka. His overall aggregate is 9244 (ave.32.78) in 336 matches.
ODIs
Sri Lanka have won 38 and lost seven out of 46 contested - winning % 84.44. Zimbabe's winning % is 15.55 (NR 1)
World Cup
Sri Lanka have won all four games played at the world cup between 1992 and 2003.
Overall World Cup
Sri Lanka have won 27 and lost 31 out of 61 contested - winning % 46.61 (Tied 1 & NR 2).
Zimbabwe have won 9 and lost 35 out of 48 contested - winning % 21.11 (Tied 1 & NR 3).
Approaching milestones
- Kumar Sangakkara (8940) needs 60 runs to complete his 9,000 runs in ODIs.
- In case of a fifty, Sangakkara (6) would equal Sri Lanka's record of most fifties at the world cup. Arjuna Ranatunga holds a Sri Lankan record for most fifties (7) at the world cup while the record for most fifty-plus is held by Sanath Jayasuriya. He has recorded three centuries and six fifties.
- Mahela Jayawardene (8975) requires 25 runs to complete 9000 runs for Sri Lanka. His overall aggregate is 9244 (ave.32.78) in 336 matches.
