3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS) - Official Discussions Thread

**Bunzz** · 06-11-2012, 05:45 AM

3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS)
Jun 13, 2012 (14:30 local | 09:00 GMT | 11:00 CEST)

**madhawatk** · 06-11-2012, 11:32 PM

They'll go with the same team and line-up for sure, unless maybe if they are chasing. I hope UT fails if he does opens (but SL hopefully do win lol); just want to get rid of him as an opener for good. I'm saying this keeping the future, especially the World Cup 2015 in mind. He's a much better player in the middle order, and if he can't pay there I say drop him. Or put him at 4 and Sanga at 5, but we know that is never going to happen.

**no1slcricketfan** · 06-12-2012, 12:16 AM

Dilly will need to make another 100 for us to win me thinks otherwise our batting could again be made to look amature

**IBA** · 06-12-2012, 06:03 AM

Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been rested for the remaining three ODIs against Pakistan following a knee operation after the home series against England in March. The national selectors have picked the uncapped left-arm spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon as his replacement.

Herath played the first two ODIs in Pallekele, bowling six overs in the first and his full quota in the second. He picked up one wicket but kept his economy rate under four an over in both games. However, keeping in mind his expected heavy workload in the Tests as the lead spinner, the team management has decided to let him recuperate till the Test series which begins in Galle on June 22.

"We had decided that he would play only two to three games in this series because it's always tough to return after an operation," Mahala Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, said on the eve of the third ODI in Colombo. "He felt it sore in the first two games. If you noticed while fielding he was struggling a bit. After speaking to the selectors and the medical team we felt it was best he got some rest before the Test series. We needed to make sure we manage him well after his operation."

Herath was earlier rested for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh and was not part of the IPL.

Weerakoon, 34, has been on the fringes of national selection for a few years. He was the third-highest wicket-taker in the first-class 2011-12 Tier A competition with 42 wickets for Colts Cricket Club. Jayawardene said his experience in the domestic circuit should serve him well.

"Personally I feel he is a deserving candidate and hopefully he will get his opportunity tomorrow," Jayawardene said. "He has been in the shadows of Murali, Malinga Bandara, Herath and Ajantha Mendis for quite some time. He is a fighter. He has a lot of experience in club cricket and the A team."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lank...ry/568170.html