Nearly a month after the tournament began,
Australia and Sri Lanka have been confirmed as the top two sides and
India, the World Cup champions, are on their way home. Now it is down to
the World Cup runners-up, a Sri Lankan side that looks strong under the
leadership of their restored captain Mahela Jayawardene, and the
No.1-ranked ODI side, an Australian outfit that disappointed at the
World Cup but has made some positive steps towards regeneration.
Sri Lanka's progression has been especially impressive after they started the series with a pair of losses followed by a tie. Their only failure since then came because of that Indian chase in Hobart. Dinesh Chandimal has been outstanding in the middle order and the rest of the batsmen have made valuable contributions, while Lasith Malinga has been the tournament's leading wicket taker and looms as a key man in Sri Lanka's finals plans. The loss of Thisara Perera, who won't play any further part in the series due to a back injury, will hurt but they showed on Friday in Melbourne that they can get by without him. Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia in a Brisbane ODI but they did win their only match there in this series, against India.
Sri Lanka's progression has been especially impressive after they started the series with a pair of losses followed by a tie. Their only failure since then came because of that Indian chase in Hobart. Dinesh Chandimal has been outstanding in the middle order and the rest of the batsmen have made valuable contributions, while Lasith Malinga has been the tournament's leading wicket taker and looms as a key man in Sri Lanka's finals plans. The loss of Thisara Perera, who won't play any further part in the series due to a back injury, will hurt but they showed on Friday in Melbourne that they can get by without him. Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia in a Brisbane ODI but they did win their only match there in this series, against India.
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