Sanath is expected to click today

World Cup runners up and the Asian champions Sri Lanka will resume their battle for supremacy with the touring Indian team with the third one day international scheduled for today under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama.

The five match series is level 1-1 after both teams won one match each at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium earlier. Sri Lanka took the opening encounter by a convincing margin of eight wickets before India hit back strongly with a thrilling three wicket win in the second one dayer.

Both teams will be hoping for an improved performance in the conditions after they had struggled for runs at the slow turning wicket at Dambulla. In fact no team managed to score more than 150 runs on both occasions which should be a major concern for the batsmen.

Sri Lanka will be strengthened with the return of their premier fast bowler Chaminda Vaas who was rested for the second one day international with a hamstring injury. The left arm seamer is in fact on the verge of setting up a record of becoming the fourth bowler to join the 400 wicket club in one day internationals.

Vaas needs just a solitary wicket to complete this milestone and would all probably share the new ball with Nuwan Kulasekera. Sri Lanka will go in with five bowlers with Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis forming an effective spin combination.

Mystery spinner Mendis has already struck form in the opening two matches and looks set to continue with his excellent form in the remaining three games. Paceman Dilhara Fernando is likely to be left out for today's game after failing to make an impact in the second one day international on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka will be looking for a better performance from their top order batsmen after their debacle where the team collapsed for just 142 runs in the second one dayer. They will need to concentrate more and put their heads down if they are to post a challenging total.

The major threat will be the Indian opening bowler Zaheer Khan who had an outstanding game while bagging the man of the match award for his four wicket haul in the second one dayer. India in fact will field four fast bowlers with Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan and Praveen Kumar in the line up with the back up support coming from veteran Harbhajan Singh.

The teams:

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardena (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Udawatte, Malinda Warnapura.

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Gautham Gambhir, Virat Kohil, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Patahan, Yuvraj Singh, Subramaniam Badrinath. Praghyan Ohja, Rudra Prathap Singh.