Sri Lanka will look to get on the board when they take on India in the fifth game of the Commonwealth Bank ODI series and we’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action starting at 1.50 pm local on Tuesday.
Two close losses from as many games may have dented Sri Lanka’s chances of entering the final in this four-leg CB series, but it has also continued their run of bad form. Of course, the narrowness of the defeats will instil a sense of hope in the squad.
Contrastingly, India started off with a crushing loss to Australia but came back well to defeat both their opponents in the next two games. Their win against the home side after they looked to give away the game will be a huge confidence-booster after they went down 4-0 in the Tests.
Both India and Sri Lanka seemed to have made tactical errors in team selection for their respective opening games but seem to have overcome the personnel issue.
India dropped the extra spinner they had selected in the Australia game and replaced him with a pace bowler. Since then, they won both their matches.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka brought in a spinner in the Australia match after going in with a five-pronged pace bowling attack for their opener. They were rewarded with a good show with the ball.
Where both teams need to improve is batting.
India showed glimpses of what won them the World Cup less than an year ago in that win against Australia but captain MS Dhoni was quick to condemn the way the batsmen got out after getting starts.
Some of the shots the batsmen played were a tennis equivalent of unforced errors and almost a cause of the side’s defeat.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are too dependent on the pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara away from home.
While T Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal have got starts, their inability to get the really big ones – undoubtedly brought about by the difference in conditions from ones back home – has been at the root of their issues.
India’s only change may come in the form of a different opening bat at the top of the order in line with their rotation policy.
Sri Lanka should go into the game with a similar team but Rangana Herath could be in line for his first game of the series as well after watching how India struggled against Xavier Doherty.
We will bring you the coverage throughout this fifth CB series ODI from the Adelaide Oval and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
Unusual to have great matches in succession, especially one being a very rare tie. All those people that said the ODI was out of place with T20 and Test Cricket may just be being proved wrong.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is it from me, I will be back with the live coverage of next game between Australia and Sri Lanka to be played on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Till that time, take care!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
MS Dhoni has been declared the man of the match for his unbeaten half-century in a match-saving effort. Incidentally, this is the 26th tie in the ODIs. India had tied one previous game in Australia in 1991-92 against West Indies where they defended a score of 120 odd.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
India were chasing 237 for a win and till the time Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni were at the crease, it looked like the game was theirs for the taking. At 4/178 in 40.2 overs, India needed their runs at six an over. The Gambhir was run-out and Dhoni and the lower-order spent too many deliveries in trying to get settled in. Things came to head with Irfan Pathan on strike and India needed 21 from nine balls. He hit a six off an above waist-high full toss that was called no-ball. Malinga bowled a decent last over but the last ball was far too wide and Dhoni got the chance to swing hard. Tie seemed to be a just result for the sides. Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal scord an excellent 81 and in conjunction with Mahela Jayawardene, pushed Sri Lanka towards 260. A late-order collapse thanks to some excellent fielding and good bowling by the likes of Vinay Kumar and R Ashwin, sent Sri Lanka hurtling to what looked like a below-par total.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This has been one of the best ODI matches in recent times, and credit to both the teams for fighting it out till the very end. Sri Lanka are on the board finally, but not quite in the manner they would have liked - a tie gives them two points. India move on to 10 points from four games, while Sri Lanka have two from three. Australia are currently at nine from three.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's three runs! That is a tie... Malinga speared it away from the batsman and had Dhoni left that alone, he would have got a wide as well. But he went for it hard and the ball was going through to the extra-cover boundary. The fielder dived and stopped the ball but in doing so, pushed it away and Dhoni was able to complete the third run... What a match!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Fine-leg up in the circle. Long-on and long-off are way back!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! Vinay Kumar is run-out off a direct hit now! Tried to go for a big shot, gets some bat, goes for a single and brings Dhoni on strike. But he is way short off the non-striker's end and is run-out. Dhoni gets the strike. 4 needed off 1.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Missed! Run-out missed! Easy chance of a run-out for Malinga but he fumbles badly at the non-striker's end. Still a single and that means Vinay Kumar is on strike and they need four from 2.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single to Vinay Kumar and that reduces it to five needed from three. Well played by the number 10, dab outside the off-stump and run!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single for Dhoni, he takes the one. Six needed from four. Vinay Kumar on strike and will Dhoni run for a bye here...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yes, he refused singles, but ran two alright! Drives it to long-on and ran really quickly for two. Could have been run-out at the non-striker's end had Malinga collected it... 7 from 5.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single from the last ball of the 49th over. That means 15 came from that over! Nine needed from six balls and Malinga v Dhoni is going to be the key contest. Dhoni may refuse singles here..
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Full, outside the off-stump and Dhoni whacks it over mid-wicket for a four! 10 needed from seven, this is the second successive close game of the series...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! Run-out! The 13th of the series and its Pathan who is dismissed. Again, Dhoni ran blindly and Pathan had to respond to the call. Mathews fielded on his follow-through and hit the stumps direct. 14 needed from 8 now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! This is exactly what Clint McKay did as well, waist-high no-ball and was hit for a six! This time its Mathews and Pathan swings it across the line to square-leg! 14 needed from 9.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Only a single off the next one, 21 needed from nine and this is getting into the areas of improbable now. Pathan on strike.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
...yes he does and misses! Almighty heave but gets nothing. 22 needed from 10.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Dhoni back on strike, taking on Mathews. Bet he is going to try to unleash a biggie...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A wide and a single off the first ball. 22 from 11 needed.