Australia Vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Final of the CB Series tomorrow at Adelaide

Tags: Australia Vs Sri Lanka 2nd Final at Adelaide Oval - Mar 6, 2012, Commonwealth Bank Series - 2012

Published on: Mar 05, 2012

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

The 2nd Final of the CB Series - Australia Vs Sri Lanka will be played tomorrow at the Adelaide Oval. The match timings are 13:50 local/03:20 GMT/08:50 IST. Read more for the squads of Australia and Sri Lanka

The second final of the Commonwealth Bank Series between Australia and Sri Lanka will be played tomorrow at the Adelaide Oval. It’s a must win game for Sri Lanka tomorrow as the tournament is at stake for them having lost the 1st Final at the MCG by 15 runs. For Australia, one solid all-round performance should end the CB Series tomorrow in their at 2-0 with the third final not required to be played.

Sri Lanka have shown some real spirit in this triangular tournament. They have come out of hopeless situations to challenge their opponents in the tri-series whether it has been India or Australia. In the first final as well, Sri Lanka were down and out at 144 for 6 chasing a target of 322 but out of nowhere in the next 20 overs or so they scared the Australians like hell! The only thing that Sri Lanka would need tomorrow is atleast two of the three big players in Tillakaratne Dilshan, Skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to fire with a big score.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews may not play tomorrow as well because of a calf injury. Sri Lanka could stick with the same team that lost the first final with Upul Tharanga expected to be retained at no.6.

Michael Clarke's Australia is leading the best of three finals 1-0On the other hand, Australia have their own fitness worry with David Warner, the hero of the 1st Final scoring 163 remaining as a doubtful starter for tomorrow’s match because of a sore groin. In his absence, Peter Forrest is expected to fill up for him although the newcomer lacks the X-factor that Warner possesses. The Australian fast bowlers didn’t bowl to their best and would be hoping to put in a much better show tomorrow. They would be upset about the fact that a lower order batsman in Nuwan Kulasekara belted them to all the parts of the ground to score 73 in just 43 balls.

Well bowlers on both the sides would be hoping that thy get to bowl with dry balls which wasn’t the case in the First Final at Brisbane. Persistent drizzle and a wet outfield made the bowlers dealing with soapy cricket balls.

The conditions at the Adelaide Oval should be friendly for the batsmen. We can expect yet another high scoring match just like the 1st Final at the Gabba. The weather conditions at Adelaide are ideal with just 5% chances of rain for tomorrow’s second final. The maximum temperature is expected to be only 25°C and the humidity just a touch over the comfort zone at 62%.

Following are the playing XIs expected :

Australia : Shane Watson, Matthew Wade (Wicket Keeper), Peter Forrest, Michael Clarke (Captain), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Brett Lee, James Pattinson, Clint McKay/Ben Hilfenhaus and Xavier Doherty

Sri Lanka : Mahela Jayawardene (Captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath and Lasith Malinga

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