India vs Sri Lanka | Compaq Cup Final Live Streaming | Live Cricket Scores | Ind vs SL

After seeing off New Zealand's timorous challenge, Sri Lanka and India will contest bragging rights in the Compaq Cup final. Sri Lanka hold the edge in the clash between two sides who generally don't do dull finals. The winners will go into the Champions Trophy in positive mood, leaving the loser to put salve on their injured pride.

 

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Boosted by the return of Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka should be fielding their strongest side - Thilan Samaraweera remains a doubt - and an Indian team missing the experience of three big-match players will have its work cut out to be competitive. Sri Lanka trounced India in the dress rehearsal on Saturday and again proved that once they have a score on the board at the Premadasa, they defend it resolutely.

Sri Lanka have all the weapons they need in two brisk new-ball operators, a vicious slinger, and two spinners with an assortment of tricks. Each of those bowlers is capable, more so under lights, of denying batsmen the space and time to score. The support cast is no less impressive, with the ever-improving Angelo Mathews and India would do well to be wary of Sanath Jayasuriya, who sorted out a couple of New Zealand batsmen with his variations last week. On Monday, India could face the world's most potent spin attack, with Murali and Ajantha Mendis possibly back in tandem. There will be a few flashes of the Asia Cup final last year.

India's concern is the batting, particularly at the top. Dinesh Karthik may have just played his way out of the XI, despite MS Dhoni having twice spoken of how wary he is to stick young Virat Kohli in as opener. Sachin Tendulkar has got starts on two occasions, but most worrying is the form of Yuvraj Singh, who has struggled to start against pace and spin. He scratched around dreadfully in both matches. India's fielding was also rather shabby in the previous game.

India's only real hope is to put up a big total and then pressure Sri Lanka's batsmen into committing errors. Chasing against the likes of Murali, Mendis and Lasith Malinga is a difficult task at the best of times, and as India found out yesterday, the anaconda grip gets you eventually.

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BCCI trying to isolate Pakistan, says Ehsan Mani

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani has accused the BCCI of trying to isolate Pakistan from the cricketing world and held it responsible for turning down the proposition of holding Pakistan's share of the ICC World Cup 2011 matches at neutral venues. More...

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Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Live Streaming, Live Cricket Scores, PAK vs SL

A seaming wicket and steaming hot conditions have forced Pakistan and Sri Lanka to delay naming their teams for the crucial second Test starting on Sunday.

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The hard, even-paced track at the P Sara Oval, livened up by the ongoing monsoon rains, was described by curator Aniruddha Polonowita as similar to the one at Galle where the first Test ended inside four days.

"It's a Galle-like wicket that will help the seamers at the start and then settle down in favour of the batsmen," Polonowita said.

"It will be best for batting on the second and third day, and there could be a bit of help for the spinners towards the end."

Sri Lanka won the first Test by 50 runs after a dramatic fourth morning when Pakistan, needing 97 runs to reach the target of 168, lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs to be bowled out for 117.

Another win for a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series will hand Sri Lanka their first ever Test series success at home against Pakistan.

Both Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara and Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said a further inspection of the wicket and the prevailing weather -- rain has been forecast during the match -- was needed before the teams were finalised.

"We have a couple of options, like playing an extra fast bowler or not, but we will have a look at the deck on Sunday morning and decide," said Sangakkara.

"You always choose the team based on how the wicket will play. It looks a good one which should help both the batsmen and bowlers."

Alam said the oppressively hot and humid weather would force fast bowlers to bowl in short bursts, meaning the combination had to be carefully finalised for the must-win game for Pakistan.

"It is premature to say what our line-up will be," said Alam. "All I will say is these are trying conditions. It is definitely hotter here than Galle."

Sangakkara said the victory in the first Test had given his team a psychological advantage going into the match, but warned team-mates against taking another win for granted.

"When you win one, you always have that edge for the next game, but it's a new Test and a new start," he said. "What happened a week ago will really not matter when the first ball is bowled."

Sangakkara wanted an improved batting performance by his team after totals of 292 and 217 in the Galle Test.

"It is vital to have a big first innings score and very important that all 11 players contribute towards that."

Alam hoped Pakistan's batsmen had learnt from the mistakes they made in Galle, but was confident the series would not be conceded easily.

"It hurt to lose a game we dominated on the first three days and then gave it away in one session," the Pakistan coach said. "It was bad batting and we have to get it right this time.

"I have enough confidence that this group has the ability to fight back. Pakistan is known to come back when the chips are down. It all boils down to how quickly the boys have learnt from their mistakes."

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