05 March,2011 01:52 PM IST | | AFP
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to bat in their World Cup Group A match against Australia at R. Premadasa stadium here on Saturday.
As expected Sri Lanka, who have won two of their three matches, named all three spinners -- Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath -- in their side.
They left out paceman Nuwan Kulasekera from the line-up which beat Kenya by nine wickets on Tuesday, bringing in left-arm spinner Herath on a brownish pitch which is expected to turn.
Australia, with two wins in as many games, remained unchanged from the side which beat New Zealand last week.
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Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, David Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait
Umpires: Tony Hill (NZL) and Ian Gould (ENG)
TV umpire: Shahvir Tarapore (IND)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
Pitch conditions: This is the same pitch at R. Premedasa stadium used for the Sri Lanka-Kenya clash. It is brown and grassless and with Sri Lanka playing three spinners, it is likely to turn.
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