Saturday’s Cricket World Cup Final The Clash Of Asian Titans And Could Be A Humdinger!
Posted on March 31st, 2011
Top Spin By Suni
March 30th 2011
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If Wednsday’s World Cup OfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ CrickertƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ semi-final between India and PakistanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at Mohali was a clash of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Asian super powers it has probably paved way for the clash of the Asian Titans with no holds barred as India and Sri Lanka prepare for the Championship gameƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at Mumbai on Saturday and bound to be a humdinger wih a global viewing audience probably running into billions.
Sri Lanka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ finally knows the team they will meet for the World Cup of Cricket at Mumbai on Saturday and as expected ~ given all the anticipation by many that Pakistan wouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ somehow be overwhelmed which proved correct, the stage is now set for what may be a glorious contest with the equally glorious uncertainties of cricket favouring neither side appropos to an ingrained right to victory based on home turf as the teams are subcontinental, quite familiar with conditions but probably need to have a means to overcome the noise factor as well as dew factor relative to the unfolding of the game so let there be no predictions despite the soothsayers whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at least on paper favour Sri Lanka!
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Perhaps the analyticalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pundits on different sides of the divide ~ The Palk Straights to be precise, will favour their local champions from a sentimental standpoint but if the stats were to be scrutinizedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from a discerning perspective perhapsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of how the teams have performed thus far it still could be anyone’s game as both teams have an equal capacity to beat the other depending purely on performance and none other. In the simplest of terms these are two ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perfectly matched teams which will probably give no quarter to the other unless forced to do so by way ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ incidental superiority relative toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who makes the lesser mistakes and which team takes advantage thereofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to surge towards the finish line, so expect a hotly contested ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sizzler on Saturday.
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If however the stats posted in the record books are to be any indication towards the outcome, it may be emphasized thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ three of the top five run-scorers in the competition of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2011 areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lankans on whom the outcome could depend heavily with all rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan , skipper and keeper batƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kumar Sangakkara, and opening batsman Upul TharangaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are trail blazersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in cracking formƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who could lay the foundation to glory ably assisted by vice captain Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews where the game could prove to be daunting for the Indians especially if the toss was won by the visitors and they had first lease of the wicket, crowd noise, dew factor etc notwithstanding!
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All things considerd, aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ big first lease totalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or not, the match will not be won without a great bowling feat where the Sri Lankans whose dependance on the spinners alone may be unrealistic given the pace and bounce the wicket generated in Sri Lanka’s game against New Zealand although the mix between pace and turn seemed fairly even despite being on an adjacent strip to the one on which the final will be played and Sri Lanka probably better off balancing evenly both areas of pace and spin bowling where an additional paceman perhaps Thisara Perera who has shown promise in all departments of the gameƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ could beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a prudent inclusion to support Lasith Malinga knowing fully well the capacity of the spinners Murali (despite a hamstring niggle still very much a force to be reckoned with) , MendisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the mystery spinner andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rangana Herath with his clever mix of deliveriesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all of whom could prove to be a force for the Indians to reckon with.
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In turn, for the Lankans there is the genius of Tendulkar, the tenacity of Shewag and the solid middle orderƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with the all round versatality of the Indian attackƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with a slight hint of pace and seamers possibly leaning towards a curbing of extra spin as India chose to do at Mohali, the pressure will still be on to perform with the intensity shown in all their victorious matches and no lapses excusable if they are to emerge winners despite the ironies of how insignificant dropped catches seemed to be albeit delusionaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ towards India’s win as well as the New Zealand fiasco of dropped catches by the LankansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which was not a deciciding factor for Sri Lanka eventualy.
Regardless of the nuancesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ applicable,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the four missed chances of Tendulkar was probably the deciding factor towards Pakistan’s lamentable 29 run loss which has ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ virtually set a cricket loving PakistanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nation in mourning.
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Whatever the outcome it sure seems like a game on for SaturdayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and may the better side win what may prove to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a final of all world cup finals to remember! It will also be the swansong of the world’s greatest spin bowler of all time Sri Lanka’s beloved Muttiah Muralidaran and perhaps all the more fitting if he guided his team toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the magnificience of a championship win and may his wonderful presence in the team which has thrilled many a spectator worldwide be a lasting memory etched in the minds of all Lankans !
March 31st, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Agree with the essential requirement of fast bowlers. I suggest eithe Dilhara Fernando or Vaas who has world cup experience together with Perera.
April 1st, 2011 at 6:10 am
I’m thinking out loud here.
LTTE terrorists can try to discourage our only two Tamil players from playing in the final. They can use threats to harm them, their relatives, etc. This is a real possibility. I’m not saying it happened but it is a real possibility.
April 1st, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Srilanka will win I can not wait till see the Game tomorrow
My friend One Patel fellow owns a Grocery store close to where I live who has the Dish network and I can watch the Game from there
We all will miss our Dear Murali for sure
April 1st, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Jimmy,
Are you going to pray to your God ?
Indians are also praying to their God. We all can see most players look for God.
Which God will win ? If there is only one God , who will be his favourite team ?
Battle of the Gods ?
No. This is utterly stupid.
Believe in yourself. Live in the present moment. Always concentrate on the ball – think no more. No God to help you , obviously, because God cannot support anyone even if God exists. Helpless God – at least in cricket.
Therefore Sri Lanka will win.
April 1st, 2011 at 6:57 pm
My Take.
Playing a half fit Murali and Matthews for sentimental as well as anxiety nerves reasons could prove to be costly and now that Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv are already in Mumbai on standby they should be included together with Thisara Perera. Sri Lanka probably needs the fresh legs too and these are much more than that.They are quality replacements who should have been included in the first place!
I am willing to bet the Indians are quaking about the outcome already but time will tell the outcome which seems to point towards a resounding Lankan win and not just a squeak past the post provided catches are taken, runnng between wickets without error and the luck of the toss too perhaps a factor remembering that fortune favours the brave!
April 1st, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Winning Team
Dishan,Tharanga,Sanga,Mahela,Thilan,Perera,Randiv, Malinga, Mendis,Murali,Feranado.
Likely Team
Dishan,Tharanga,Sanga,Mahela,Thilan,Perera,Randiv, Kulasekara, Malinga, Herat, Murali
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:16 am
Best game
Will be an easy win for Srilanka
Today is a proud day for all Lankans
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:18 am
Sad folks never thought Lanka will loose
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
Dham
Thanks for what you said ” Believe in yourself. Live in the present moment”
Thanks brother for your advise. I do need that
spirituality is also important Whether you believe in Lord Budha or Lord Krishna or Lord Jesus or Lord Allah
That is my opinion
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Jimmy,
That is all right. Bringing God into cricket is utterly stupid. You did not do that. Sorry for taking on you.
But you could see a lot of Indian players and some Sri Lankan players did that. Today the Hindu God was powerful than Catholic God.
What shall we do to make Catholic god more powerful.
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Jimmy,
Both my teams were not correct. Mendis and Dilhara instead of Kapu and Kula could have won the match. This has nothing to do with adding more Catholic players to make Catholic God more powerful. This is about using most suitable team. Dilhara could have been more effective with power , speed, surprise like Malinga.
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:31 pm
What shall we do to make Catholic god more powerful?
They should convert to Pentecostal may be. But Again it did not help either today ( I had a prayer today)
I am proud that SrilLankan team played extremly well.
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Jimmy,
God has other work to do, if such entity exist at all. Drawing the cross before start bowling and kissing the ground after getting a hundred are equally stupid.
Look at Jayawardene after getting the world cup hundred. Perfect behaviour.
We lost because we played Murali who was not fit. He could not run, catch ball, throw. Poor Murali . Why should Sri Lanka unconditionally use him in the final just because it was his last. We were too emotional on that.
Next issue was using new player Randiv and Kapugedara rather than Dilhara and Mendis ( see my wining team above).
Give up Pentacostal and believe in yourself and always do not do unjust things out of desire. God will come to you , then ( if any God exist). You do not need to pray or look up to God. He will come to you.