*Official* Match 20 - Sri Lanka v Australia

[Woodster]

Sanga now has 61 ODI fifties and only 10 hundreds, poor conversion rate for a player of such undoubted talent. If he can make three figures today it will go a long way to winning his side the game here, and there's no reason why he shouldn't, he's faced all the Aussie attack today and not looked in too much trouble, understands the pace of the pitch, and has plenty of time left in the innings to just continue as he's going now for some time.

 

[Uppercut]

Krejza's looking pretty good, Sangakkara's playing him soo well though..

 

[Burgey]

Did this match start at 8pm EDST? If so, yet again Australia's over rate is **** here.

 

[JBH001]

"Black Magic" Samaraweera is looking a bit ill at ease here. So much pressure on Sanga atm.

 

[Spark]

Hmmm... turn, but looks a bit slow. Mind you, that might just be Sanga.

 

[Noble One]

It is so odd that Samaraweera is statistically one of the great Test batsman of all time, and yet he makes an extremely average ODI batsman. He doesn't look solid at all today.

 

[social]

Great over that. Really like to see Krezja do well and factor again in the set up.

Hopefully just a stop gap until Smith gets more experience

Off-spinner in Oz = slow medium pace in-duckers = 40+ average

 

[Spark]

Come on now. Rush through.

Smithy on. Good move.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

These Smith overs are huge. Wouldn't want to chase more than 250.

 

[Spark]

Geez that landed so close to his toe, and that would have been stone dead if so.

 

[Spark]

Wakey wakey Clarke.

 

[Noble One]

It is good to see a true spinners wicket. Too many flat tracks that offer nothing to pace or spin in this World Cup thus far.

I like cricket in the SC because you rarely see spin look truly threatening anywhere else.

 

[Blaze 18]

Good shot from T.Samaraweera. Best he's played all innings.

 

[Spark]

Darn. Guess he can't do everything, Smith.

 

[vcs]

Sanga doesn't rotate strike with the ease you associate with SC batsmen against spin. He's looked awesome but he's 58(88). Mind you, that could improve sharpish and this may not be a high-scoring wicket anyway, but just my thoughts.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nice decision to bring Tait back on. Will be a threat before the ball change.

 

[Woodster]

It is so odd that Samaraweera is statistically one of the great Test batsman of all time, and yet he makes an extremely average ODI batsman. He doesn't look solid at all today.

Yes think certainly early in his career he struggled to come to terms with the demands of ODI cricket, his style you would say is much better suited to the longer format. Maybe now he has a better understanding of his role within the SL side, although he is still yet to push on and make a real impression. Has played only two innings, out of his 38 innings to date, where he passed 50, going on to make centuries in both against NZ and India, both match winning contributions also.

Hasn't done a great deal since that last century at the start of last year. Maybe a chance for him to make a real impact today, before the ominous looking weather closes in!

 

[Nate]

Hating the Tait love.

 

[Woodster]

Sanga doesn't rotate strike with the ease you associate with SC batsmen against spin. He's looked awesome but he's 58(88). Mind you, that could improve sharpish and this may not be a high-scoring wicket anyway, but just my thoughts.

Yes a strike rate of around 65 is not brilliant. Think he has assessed this pitch and has a good idea of what he thinks is a good score and is not going to take unnecesary risks in trying to take his side to 280/300. Also the wickets in the shed may be crucial.

Probably could rotate the strike a little better than he has of late though. Still looks all class mind.

 

[Spark]

Who's off? That looked like Tim Paine out there.

I really don't like those clouds.