Something about major tournaments stokes Sri Lanka's fire. They have now
reached their fifth semi-final in six competitions, second only to
Pakistan who have a cleansweep since the 2007 World Cup. In between the
major events, they are often underwhelming. Before defeating Pakistan in
the home ODIs in June, Sri Lanka had failed to collect silverware in
six limited-overs series over 10 months.
Yet they have emerged frontrunners once more. The batting that so often
seems fragile against quality bowling has grown a steely backbone. The
middle order, abounding in youth, has bared its teeth as well. When
England muscled past the top three on Monday, they stumbled into an
ambush. The youngsters may not yet have acquired the heavy weaponry
their seniors deal in, but they have enough switchblades and brass
knuckles between them, and the audacity to dare anyone to a fight.
Pakistan's wounds from their last scrap at the Premadasa may not yet have healed.
Sri Lanka's bowling has been their strength, but occasionally it has
been made to look brittle by opponents who have cracked its unorthodoxy.
With three allrounders now among their ranks, Sri Lanka have stockpiled
resources capable of stepping in for ailing front-liners. Thisara
Perera has had a career-defining 12 months with the ball, but he has
been held in reserve during this tournament in that regard. Others like
Akila Dananjaya have emerged to add mettle to an attack that has
reclaimed some of the fearsomeness it surrendered since the 2011 World
Cup
Sri Lanka also understand they must win the title to appease a fan base
that has been spoilt by the team's consistency in major tournaments.
Having come so close so many times, nothing but a victory in the final
will do for most. But first Sri Lanka must overcome Pakistan, whose zest
for the grand stage may be even keener than their own.
"We are still two games away from the title, but we're extremely proud
to be a part of a group that has been consistent throughout these
tournaments," Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene said on the eve of
the semi-final. "When you look back, even though we haven't won, for us
to be in those situations and have pushed hard is great. Yes, we haven't
won any of those [tournaments] and it's a bit of a disappointment, but
we have to be in those situations and if we keep getting there we will
win."
Sri Lanka arrive at the semi finals as the only team of the remaining
four not to have played a match at the Premadasa. They have a poor
Twenty20 record in Colombo, having failed to win any of the four matches
played here, though each of those results came before the square was
re-laid in 2010.
Sri Lanka began their campaign on the fastest track of the tournament in
Hambantota, and adjusted quickly to a slightly less bouncy track in
Pallekele. As the only team that will play at all three venues, they
need to adapt once again in Colombo. However, Sri Lanka's strength in
and against spin should assist them at the venue that has produced the
driest surfaces of the competition.
Given some of the best players of spin in the world are in Sri Lanka's
top six, Pakistan are unlikely to send down 18 overs of slow bowling, as
they did against Australia on Wednesday. "They've got some quality
spinners, but our guys play spin quite well," Jayawardene said. "We need
to look at what kind of wicket we get tomorrow. It looks a fresh
wicket, one where the first-round games were played. Depending on how
the wicket behaves we need to take a few tactical changes. If we make
any plans we have to play accordingly."
Throughout the campaign, Sri Lanka and their captain have worn the
desperation of men striving to taste World Cup success. The nation's
cricket identity is inextricably linked to a single World Cup, as any
builder, beggar, businessman or priest reminiscing about 1996 will
attest. Perhaps for the first time in the last decade, Sri Lanka have no
weak links; every facet of their game has roared to life in the Super
Eights and those flames will only burn hotter in the belly of a heaving
Premadasa
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