Online Scoreboard : Live ScoreBoard India v Sri Lanka , 3rd ODI, Colombo, Live telecast, Match Preview

August 23, 2008

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and S Badrinath saved India the blushes with a series-levelling win in Dambulla on Wednesday, but the manner in which the win was achieved suggests Sri Lanka remain the favourites for the next game. The venue will suit them too: the last three matches will all be played at the Premadasa Stadium, a venue in which they have won 44 ODIs and lost just 17, giving them a win-loss ratio which is among the best by any team at any ground.

It isn’t just that history favours them; they are the better team on current form as well. The batting stuttered badly in the second game, but there’s enough firepower and experience in the top order to ensure that the mistakes aren’t repeated, while the bowling, especially in home conditions, hardly ever falters.

India, on the other hand, have plenty of top-order worries: the batting line-up has failed to decode the mysteries of Ajantha Mendis, and even a target of 143 seemed like a huge mountain to climb. Gautam Gambhir’s return will be a plus, but the rest of the batsmen will need to lift it a couple of notches as well. The bowling, especially the display of Zaheer Khan, has been terrific so far, and the onus will probably be on them to cover up for the deficiencies of the batsmen.