 India look to wrap up series on Tuesday
25th Aug 2008 21:03 IST
Agencies
Having put the pressure on the hosts with two consecutive wins, India is likely to retain the winning combination when they go into the fourth one dayer against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday seeking to clinch the series by taking an unassailable 3-1 lead.
After being thrashed in the first match in Dambulla, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his young bravehearts have tilted the scale in their favour with two close wins and need just one more triumph to record a rare overseas series win.
Although the Indians have been quite sloppy on the field with a number of dropped catches, the two victories will no doubt serve as a morale booster as they gear up for another floodlit contest at the R Premadasa stadium.
The islanders, on the other hand, have no option but to win the game tomorrow to stay afloat in the five-match series.
The track at the Premadasa stadium did provide some assistance to the bowlers which means that the game could turn out to be another low-scoring affair.
The two rival captains -- Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene -- did prove that batting was not all that difficult on this pitch with heroic knocks and it remains to be seen whether the other batsmen show the necessary application.
Dhoni had won the important toss in the last two games and may again opt to bat first, when the wicket is at its best, if luck favours him again.
The visitors would need to work on taking catches under lights in case they have to field second, besides avoiding needless run outs.
The Indian team had a good practice session at the nets on Monday trying to plug the gaps ahead of the match in which Sri Lankans are expected to come out with all guns blazing to equalise the series before going for the final on Friday.
Though there were contributions from a few batsmen to take India to a challenging total of 237 in the third match, the Indian camp is worried about Yuvraj Singh's form.
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