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12-Jan-2010 15:38:00 GMT
India vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series final, Mirpur

Sangakkara to Exploit Indian Bowling Woes

Mirpur: Indian bowlers have been leaking runs in the tournament so far and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, on Tuesday, said that his side would look to exploit their opponent's bowling woes in the tri-series final on Wednesday.

"We have been putting pressure on their bowling for the last two or three months or even more than that. We would be looking to do that tomorrow. But at the same time we don't underestimate any side or any player. We will play to our strength to win the game tomorrow," Sangakkara said after his team practice session ahead of the summit clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Sangakkara said his side has moved on from the crushing defeat it suffered at the hands of India on Sunday.

"It was a bad performance by us on Sunday with the bat and ball and even fielding. We have forgotten that and it will be a fresh start tomorrow. We have been preparing for the final as best as possible and we want to win," he said.

Asked if a side bowling second can win a match in the tournament considering the dew factor in the evening, Sangakkara said, "Of course, the side which bowls second can win if they post a big total and then bowl a tight line and length.

"Anywhere above 270-280 would be a good total to do that."

The Lanka skipper was all praise for Suraj Randiv, who has impressed with both bat and ball in the series, and said he was looking forward to the rookie spinner playing alongside veteran Muttiah Muralitharan in the side.

"Randiv has been having a very good tournament. He is pushing for a regular place in the side, no doubt about that. But Murali is Murali he cannot be compared with anybody. When Murali returns from injury to the team it will be exciting if Randiv plays along with him (Murali) if we can manage that," said Sangakkara.

"That is very good for Sri Lankan team. The newcomers are putting pressure on the seniors and pushing for a place in the side. In the Sri Lankan team the players are selected always on performance and merit. So there is the opportunity for the newcomers to give the seniors a run for their money," he added.

Asked about any particular strategy against in-form Kohli who is highest scorer with 273 runs, Sangakkara said, "He is in great form. We will concentrate on bowling line and length to him."

Sangakkara endorsed Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan's view that Sri Lanka rely more on team effort, but stayed from giving opinion whether Indian relied mainly on individual brilliance.

"It depends. If the individual performance leads to the team's victory, that matters. I always say that it is better to score 10 runs and be on the winning side instead of scoring 100 and see your team lose," he said.

"In the Sri Lankan team we have 15 players in this tour and our job was to prepare these 15 the best way as possible to win matches. What we do is we support each other and try and carry all of us together. That's what we believe in," the Sri Lankan captain added.


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