Sri Lanka skipper Thisara Perera has said the key to Sri Lanka’s success in the third and deciding ODI against the Indian cricket team at the ACA-VDCA stadium lies in taking early wickets and exposing India’s vulnerable middle order.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Perera said the team is determined to repeat its bowling performance in Dharamsala. “We took two early wickets in the first ODI. The Indian middle and lower order all of a sudden was under pressure. Our plan is to take early wickets in the first 20 overs,” Perera said.
In the first match at the HPCA stadium, India were reduced to 29/7 in 16.4 overs thanks to a splendid spell of 4/13 in 10 overs by Suranga Lakmal.
Avoiding Mohali mistakes
After the brilliant performance in Dharamsala, Sri Lanka’s bowling fell apart in the Mohali ODI thanks to a blazing onslaught from Rohit Sharma, who scored his third double century. All bowlers suffered, with Lakmal, their pace spearhead, bowling four consecutive full tosses and getting dispatched for sixes in the 42nd over.
Lakmal went for 26 runs in that over and in the last 10 overs, Sri Lanka conceded 147 runs. Perera hoped to avoid a repeat of the mistakes. “Our bowling didn’t click and that was disappointing. We want to put that game aside and bounce back. We will not repeat these mistakes. We have some plans for Rohit and for Shikhar Dhawan and now it is up to our bowlers to execute those plans,” the Sri Lankan skipper said.
{{/usCountry}}Lakmal went for 26 runs in that over and in the last 10 overs, Sri Lanka conceded 147 runs. Perera hoped to avoid a repeat of the mistakes. “Our bowling didn’t click and that was disappointing. We want to put that game aside and bounce back. We will not repeat these mistakes. We have some plans for Rohit and for Shikhar Dhawan and now it is up to our bowlers to execute those plans,” the Sri Lankan skipper said.
{{/usCountry}}Perera added that Sri Lanka’s bowlers needed to execute their plans much better, especially while bowling short balls. “We had a good chat yesterday. Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep bowled well in the first game, but failed to execute those plans in the second game. I am pretty certain they will deliver,” Perera said.
A win for Sri Lanka will give them a first-ever bilateral ODI series win in India but it will be difficult at a venue where India have a good record, having won five out of six encounters.