Adelaide, Feb 13: Desperate to win their first match of the tournament, senior Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara today put up a brave front ahead of his team's match against India in the ODI tri-series, here tomorrow.
“Our strength has always been playing India away from India. India are always strong in India, with the smaller grounds and conditions they are used to. But away from home, we have always done very well against them,” Sangakkara was trying to play a few mindgames knowing well that he can't back his statements with facts which state otherwise.
In Australia, India have lost only one out of six matches against Sri Lanka. In England, it's again a solitary loss from five games. The only time they met in South Africa, India prevailed handsomely.
Yes, India did lose to Sri Lanka by 69 runs in the 2007 World Cup group league match and they suffer by 19-26 win-loss ratio in Sri Lanka but overall they have had a superior presence than their island neighbours in 50-ver format.
Even in Sri Lanka, in the last 17 matches, India have emerged victors in 10 matches. In India, of course they enjoy a 29-11 win-loss record. Overall, India have won 69 and lost 50 matches with no-result in 11 matches.
Still, Sangakkara was right on his money, when he stressed his team needed to win at least four of the remaining six league matches.
“You have got to win a minimum of four games to have any chance of qualifying for the finals. Tomorrow is another opportunity.”
