If the World Cup was solely rated on batting, then Sri Lanka would deserve to be favourites.
Their batting line-up is superb, with all of their top six producing outstanding performances during this tournament.
The stand-out of course is the incomparable Kumar Sangakkara, who has just reeled off four centuries in a row in his usual effortless, graceful style.
The thrashing machine, Tillakaratne Dilshan, has made two centuries and generally got his team away to a flyer.
Fellow opener and vice captain Lahiru Thirimanne has missed out the past two innings, but made that terrific hundred to help pilot Sri Lanka to an easy, nine-wicket win over England chasing over 300 in Wellington.
Mahela Jayawardene, who is retiring after this World Cup, has a century as well, while skipper Angelo Matthews does at the end what Dilshan does at the start in another blitzkrieg role.
Dinesh Chandimal had his moments, such as smashing 48 off just 21 balls against Australia in Sydney last Sunday, before a hamstring injury ended his World Cup. If he didn’t get injured, the Sri Lankans were some chance of overhauling Australia’s massive 376.
He will be a loss in the knockout stages, but if three of the top five can continue their great form, Sri Lanka will remain more than competitive.
Their main issue is bowling. The better teams such as Australia and even England, although they have had a poor World Cup, dominated the Sri Lankan attack. This has been compounded by injuries to medium fast bowler Dhammika Prasad and off-spinner Jeevan Mendis, who were forced out before the tournament started, and now their star spinner Rangana Herath.
Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera have been fine servants for their country, but are steady bowlers at best and have trouble stemming the run flow against the better batsmen.
Dilshan with his off spinners and Matthews’ medium pacers ensure they have options outside their recognised bowlers, but neither are match winners with the ball.
In short, they rely far too much on the yorkers and slinging action of Lasith Malinga.
At this stage they are likely to play South Africa in the quarter finals and considering South Africa’s patchy form and reliance on the world’s best right-handed one-day batsman, AB de Villiers, the Sri Lankans are a massive chance. However if AB puts on another unbelievable display of power-hitting, like he did against the West Indies, Angelo Matthews’ men will be in trouble.
But if the Lankans bat first, they would put enormous pressure on the Proteas, who need more from Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and especially opener Quinton de Kock, who has hardly made a run.
Sri Lanka would love to ensure two of their greatest ever players in Sangakkara and Jayawardene end their one day careers in the best possible way.
The rest of the team owe them that, particularly the bowlers, who need to shine on the big stage.
Targa
Guest
I spoke a bit soon - the NZ bowlers just got tonked by Bangladesh. V tough run chase coming up
Yeah, he hasn't clicked yet, hopefully someone grinds him and his crazy eyes return
The Bush
Roar Guru
I was making the joke about being human... I 100% agree that the best approach is to go hard and attacking and try and get him early. I also think this is the only approach you can really take to bowling/fielding in ODI cricket at all these days because if you don't take consistent wickets a la Australia v New Zealand a few weeks ago, then all the tops sides are going to put on 300+ against you every time now, it's just that simple.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Steyn had better start bowling well for SA..
Targa
Guest
If you mixed the Sri Lankan batsmen with the Kiwi bowlers they'd win the WC final by 200 runs/10 wickets
13th Man
Guest
The toss will decide this game. The team that bats first will pile on the runs carried by either Sanga or AB. They should put 350 on the board. If SA bats second, they wont get close. SL might give it a push but still wont get there.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Not sure I'd say England's batsmen dominated SL's bowlers. They got a score a bit over 300 in conditions where they really needed to be on the high side of 350. The batting lineup certainly is Sri Lanka's strength, though I feel like their late order fire power isn't quite as strong as the other contenders. They might be able to get 100 off the last 10 overs if that doesn't include the likes of Starc and Faulkner, but I don't think they quite have the firepower to get the 140-150 off the last 10 that teams like Australia and South Africa are often getting. It's why, despite being ahead of Australia at the same stage for much of that match, they still felt behind, because, especially with Starc and Faulkner still having overs in hand it was hard to see them coming close to the finish that Australia managed.
BBA
Guest
I am sure it was true about Bradman as well too. Therefore you want your best bowlers and a field that has the best chance to get that person out, and a plan and intent to, rather than just try and contain him at the start. Unless you think that is the wrong strategy. However in NZ especially in the Test matches it worked more often than not, against Sangakarra, however one time he got in he still scored a very fine double century. Not saying its going to work all the time, but the best chance is to attack rather than restrict.
spruce moose
Guest
Very true. After 5 overs the only person who dismisses Sanga is usually himself.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I'm sure they said that about Bradman ;)
Chinmusick
Roar Rookie
If SL bat first, look out South Africa. That is a match that the Saffers should win, but I can see SL scoring about 6000000 if they bat first and South Africa will be dead... Again...
brian
Guest
the one less man out has really hurt their bowling which often relied on restrictions rather then wicket taking.
I agree with going hard, we might as well go to take wickets, we aren't very good at deathbowling. So we don't want them to have lots of wickets left in the last 10
Jerry
Guest
The other thing about the Sri Lankan bowlers is that they don't provide much with the bat either. They've got a big tail full of trundlers.
BBA
Guest
Gotta go hard at Sangakarra early, once he gets settled (5 or so overs) he is hard to dislodge. SA have got the bowlers to trouble Sri Lanka's top order, and they field better, so they still have the edge in my book as a neutral. Although once you get to quarters there are no certainties.
It looks very likely that SA will play them in the quarter finals, so I am hoping Sangakarra doesn't rattle of another 100, surely a failure is on the cards? After all he is just human, isn't he?
Johnno
Guest
Sanga,Jaysauria,Arvinda De Silva,Dilshan,Jawaywardne,and many more, Ceylon sure produces many talented batters, it would be great if they could produce some good paceman as Sri Lanka's batters are top shelf.