India all set to clinch series against Sri Lanka

PUNE—Riding the crest of an amazing sequence of triumphs, India will look to seal the seven-match ODI cricket series in their favour with another dominating display against a self-doubting Sri Lanka in the fourth tie on Thursday.
Having taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, India are running high on confidence and it would require a superhuman effort from the Lankans to stop the winning run of their rivals at the traditionally batsman-friendly Nehru Stadium track and keep the series alive.
Lanka have failed to click as a team, in total contrast to India, who suddenly seem to have found the winning touch which had been missing over the last season as well as on the previous tours of Lanka and Zimbabwe.
The biggest let-down for Lanka in the series so far has been the big four—former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, currrent skipper Marvan Atapattu, left-arm pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas and spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.
None of them have performed to their potential, to a large extent due to the constant pressure applied on them by the hosts. The Lankans are hence due for a match-winning display from at least one of this quartet in what is a do-or-die encounter for them.
Jayasuriya has been struggling with his freak shoulder injury and it remains to be seen how the Matara marauder performs with the bat on Thursday.
Atapattu has once again looked clueless on Indian soil after his lack of success in this country on previous visits while Vaas and Murali have looked largely ineffective against the determined Indian batsmen.
Adding to the Lankans’ batting woes would be the non-availability of their vice captain Mahela Jayawardene in the crucial match.
The right-handed stylist, who seemed to have run into some form when making 71 in the previous encounter in Jaipur, has returned home to get married and is expected back in India in time only for the fifth match of the series at Ahmedabad on November 6.
All rounders Russel Arnold and Tillekaratne Dilshan have been miserable failures so far with both bat and ball.
The only saving grace for the visitors has been the form displayed by their wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara who has scores of 43, 27 and 138 not out to his credit.
But he has not received sufficient support at the other end, barring the last tie when Jayawardene and the big-hitting Farveez Maharoof helped him set India 299 to chase.
Unlike the Indians, who have sent in Irfan Pathan, J P Yadav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the one-down slot in the series so far and have succeeded well beyond anyone’s imagination, the Lankan think tank has preferred to use the clean-hitting Maharoof only in the lower order.
With Vaas and Murali not as effective as is their wont, it has been left to the likes of Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa and Upul Chandana to rise to the occasion, but they have been mere cannon fodders to the rampaging Indian batsmen.
The hosts, in total contrast, are riding a wave of success under the aggressive leadership of Rahul Dravid and form of comeback man Sachin Tendulkar who seems to have rediscovered his glorious touch straightaway since returning to international cricket after a six-month injury lay-off.
The Indians have not only overwhelmed the Lankans but have also outthought the visitors in the strategies — the promotion of Pathan at Nagpur and Dhoni, who pulverised the attack to make a record 183 not out at Jaipur, to the number three slot being prime examples.
The Indians outwitted the Lankans in the guessing game with both Chappell and Dravid refusing to divulge to the media anything about the batting order on match-eves by saying that it would help the opposition in framing a counter.
After the spectacular success of Pathan and Dhoni, especially the latter who waded into the Lankan attack at Jaipur and smashed it to smithereens, it is another guessing game who would come out to bat at number three for India on Thursday.
Teams: India: Rahul Dravid (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Y. Venugopala Rao, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Jai Prakash Yadav, S Sreesanth, Gautam Gambhir and Rudra Pratap Singh.
Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamida Vaas, Upul Chandana, Thilon Samaraweera, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Upul Tharanga.

Atapattu hopes Jayasuriya fit to bowl against India

PUNE (India)—Sri Lanka Captain Marvan Atapattu is hopeful all rounder Sanath Jayasuriya will be fit enough to bowl in Thursday’s fourth one-day international against India.
Jayasuriya aggravated his right shoulder shortly before the tour after dislocating it in August and has been used only as a batsman.
Sri Lanka risk conceding the seven-match series in Pune after going 3-0 down.
“Sanath has bowled in the nets the last two days and I intend using him tomorrow,” Atapattu said on Wednesday.
Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s most-capped player, was less confident of bowling his left-arm spin in Pune.
“The injury is healing. It feels better, but I haven’t yet decided whether to bowl,” the 36-year-old said.
Jayasuriya has taken 267 wickets in 342 one-dayers and is one of only four players to make more than 10,000 runs in one-day matches.
He has struggled with the bat in the series so far with scores of 27, nought and 15 as Sri Lanka have looked way below their best against India.
Sri Lanka will be without Sri Lanka middle-order batsman Mahela Jayawardene for Thursday’s match because he is getting married in Colombo.
Jayawardene will return for the fifth game in Ahmedabad on Nov. 6. He made 71 in the third match, which Sri Lanka lost by six wickets after India’s Mahendra Dhoni made an unbeaten 183 — the highest one day score by a wicketkeeper.—Agencies

Tight security at Pune

PUNE—The police in the state are not taking any chances and have stepped up security measures by employing dog squad and more police personals at the Nehru Stadium, the venue of the Indo-Lanka fourth one-day International on November 3.
Meanwhile, a security drill was conducted at the stadium here and police said there will be no stones unturned to maintain strict security for both players and public alike.
The drill was conducted by police and bomb disposal squad, Ajay Shirke, President of Maharashtra Cricket Association, told reporters, adding a mobile control would also be set up for the match.
Besides the police, personnel from a private security agency would also be deployed at the stadium during the match, he said.—Agencies