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India beat Lanka XI in practice game
India registered a comfortable 61-run win against a Sri Lanka XI in a practice game in Colombo.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:54 AM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Colombo:
India having slumped to the eighth place in the ICC one-day rankings will be looking to get the season started on a winning note.
But their poor record in Sri Lanka stands in the way.
Team India has a new Captain, a new coach and a new opening pair in the form of V V S Laxman and Virender Sehwag. But at least the warm up match gave the Indian team a good 61 run win.
Mohammad Kaif made 52, and a lower order 86 not out off 81 balls from MS Dhoni proved that he should probably be opening.
India's next practice game is in Dambulla on July 28.
Tough contest
But the next two weeks will be definitely a lot tougher as India take on Sri Lanka and West Indies in the Indian Oil Cup from Saturday.
"India is a good side and the absence of Sourav and Sachin will not effect as they were not performing in the recent past," said Michael Roberts, Cricket journalist and Historian.
Sourav Ganguly might just make the trip if he gets a favourable decision on Thursday. But even his presence can't change the fact that India have a poor record in one dayers in Sri Lanka.
They've won just three of the last nine matches that they have played. Coach Greg Chappell, making his debut is confident of turning around the result this time.
"Bowlers and batters need to do their job. Everyone needs to be the job then only we will be able to win," said Chappell.
Lankans on a roll
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankans have lost just one of their last nine one day matches at home.
And with Muralitharan's doosra on display in the second test against West Indies, the hosts will be tough to beat, even though Chaminda Vaas is down with an injury.
West Indies' under-strength team are almost being counted out of the contest, making it seem like this isn't a tri-series contest at all.
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