Contrary to group B which is wide open where six teams are still in quarter final race, situation in group A is quite different. More or less, four teams that will qualify for the knockout stages from group A are known but it is the battle to top the table that has made it interesting. All four teams want to top the group to avoid playing a top team from group B in the quarter final.
Thursday encounter against Zimbabwe at Pallekele Stadium provides Sri Lanka with an opportunity to dethrone New Zealand from the top spot which they got after mauling Pakistan at the same stadium.
One of the co-hosts, Sri Lankan journey in the tournament has had both crests and troughs. They rolled past the minnows-Kenya and Canada- in the matches they played against them but were defeated by Pakistan and had to share a point each with Australia in abandoned game.
Not only Lankan team would be keen to win the match but they would want a victory with a big margin. They have the ammunition and arsenal to do that.
Zimbabwe has had problems with their batting line up and lack of genuine fast bowlers hasn’t helped either. Zimbabwe, on a recovery after five years of political turmoil that rocked their cricket the most, have been average against top teams like Australia and New Zealand but came trumps against Canada.
They would know that to get past Sri Lanka in their own den is a difficult affair and team management would try to make sure their inexperienced side isn’t fazed by the big guns in the Sri Lankan team.
In the game featuring New Zealand and Pakistan, pitch had something for bowlers and batting to make it a good cricket pitch.
Sri Lanka
Batting is turning out to be a problem for Sri Lanka in the tournament with openers lacking consistency and fluency. Tilkeratne Dilshan hasn’t been his usual self in this tournament and he would like to use Zimbabwe game to bring both fluency and confidence back.
Lower order batsmen have not got enough opportunity to spend time in the middle and there might be a shuffle in betting order for the tomorrow’s game.
Skipper Kumar Sangakara has been Sri Lanka’s best batsmen in the tournament and would like to continue on his run scoring form and other team mates to share the burden as well.
Bowling is strong suite of the home team. Return of Lasith Malinga has made it even stronger and it would be interesting whether or not Lanka management persist with three frontline spinners that they played against Australia.
Squad: Kumar Sangakara Capt & Wkt), Mahela Jayewardene, Tilkeratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapudegera, Chamara Silva, Thisara Perrera, Muthaih Murlitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekra, Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga
Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe batting is relying too much on Brendon Taylor and Tatenda Taibu and if the duo fails side isn’t able to post a big score.
Not only Zimbabwe will look for their senior men to score, they would also welcome runs from their junior players like Greg Lamb, Vusimuzi Sibanada and Terry Duffin.
Skipper Elton Chigumbura is yet to make an impact in the tournament and is due to score runs. So is Charles Coventry who has looked out of sorts and needs to bring in his top game into play to help his side to compete in the tournament.
Fast bowling is definitely weak on resources with only fast bowler in Christopher Mpofu who has done well.
Spin department is the strength though with an army of slow bowlers in the squad. Left arm spinner Raymond Price, opening the bowling, has been at his miserly best in the tournament well supported by Prosper Utseya thanks to thrifty and well controlled off-spinners.
Squad: Brendan Taylor (wk,) Charles Coventry, Christopher Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (c,) Graeme Cremer, Greg Lamb, Prosper Utseya, Ray Price, Regis Chakabva, Shingirai Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Terry Duffin, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda
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