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India 'A' looks favourite to win title

By S. Sabanayakan

KOLKATA DEC. 29. India `A' has the talent and temperament to come out on top in the Kenstar Asian `A' teams triangular cricket tournament when it faces the challenge of Sri Lanka `A' in the final at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday.

The glorious uncertainties of the game notwithstanding, India `A' will be out in full force and flair to outshine Sri Lanka. India's victory against Pakistan `A' in the final league — third straight in this meet — on Sunday will only reinforce the faith on this Indian side, which suffered the only loss to Russel Arnold-led Sri Lanka `A' in the tournament opener.

How worthy Sri Lanka `A' is as an opponent to India in the title round will be entirely left to the team to prove on the morrow. Sri Lanka's main problem seems to be its bowling resources. The failure of its most experience bowler Nuwan Zoysa to provide early breakthroughs means the inexperienced attack is unable to contain the rival batsmen in middle overs.

Even the team's lone left-arm spinner Rangana Herath looking very ordinary, it is left to mediumpacers Nuwan Kulasekara and Farveez Maharoof to provide the stability to the attack.

The much greater problem Arnold may face is his free-stroking batsmen's inability to adjust to slower pitches. The captain himself is quite experienced to handle this but most of the team's other batsmen lack discipline to excel in such situation.

The naming of the senior Indian team for the triangular Down Under will take a lot of pressure and expectation off some of the youngsters. India `A' is certain to miss No. 3 bat Mohammad Kaif through an injury. Rohan Gavaskar, who came in place of Kaif and had a first-ball duck against Pakistan `A', is down with high fever and is unlikely to play. S. Sriram of Tamil Nadu is likely to play in the eleven.

Bhandari will return to the side in place of Siddharth Trivedi. Munaf Patel, after two unimpressive showing, has quickly learnt his lessons and may prove very dexterous in the middle overs. Sairaj Bahutule and Sarandeep Singh are the two frontline spinners well supported by Dinesh Mongia, Yuvraj Singh and, if need be, by Hemang Badani.

For this Indian side, the biggest enemy will be complacency. It only needs to guard against this and play to its potential.

The teams (from): India A: Hemang Badani (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sanjay Bangar, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Rohan Gavaskar, Ajay Ratra (wk), Sairaj Bahutule, Amit Bhandari, Munaf Patel, Sarandeep Singh, S. Sriram and Siddharth Trivedi.

Sri Lanka A: Russel Arnold (capt), Saman Jayantha, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Jehan Mubarak, Naveed Nawaz, Thilina Kandamby, Prasanna Jayawardane (wk), Nuwan Zoysa, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, A. Polonowita, Chamara Silva, Ian Daniels, Tharanga Lakshitha.

Umpires: Z.H. Syed and A. Rauf (both Pakistan). Match referee: G.R. Visvanath.

Hours of play: 8-45 a.m. to 12-15 p.m. and 12-24 to 4-15 p.m.

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