Australia and Sri Lanka both have reasons to feel confident about their chances of victory in the second final of the VB Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The Australians have dominated the VB Series and hold a 3-1 advantage over Sri Lanka in the preliminary rounds. And according to Australian captain Ricky Ponting, the loss in the first final was not your normal game of cricket.
"It was a pretty bizarre game," Ponting said after the Australians suffered five run outs in the 22-run loss to Sri Lanka at Adelaide Oval.
"I said leading into the game that I couldn't have been happier with where we were and the way we played over the last few weeks, and I don't think we've really done anything tonight that would suggest there's any need to panic or worry about things."
"We've just got to go away and make sure our frame of mind is right for Sunday and we get out there and approach that game the same as we have all the rest."
Apart from Friday night's loss the signs have been encouraging for the Australians.
Opener Adam Gilchrist is back in form, having smashed 263 runs from four innings since returning from his rest-break. Michael Hussey has been a game winner in the middle-order along with Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg has been great with bat, ball and in the field.
The loss of Glenn McGrath has left a big hole in the Aussie bowling attack but Brett Lee has risen to the occasion, twice returning five-wicket performances in recent games. .jpg)
The Australians are expected to retain the same twelve from the first final, with James Hopes odds-on to once again be named the super-sub.
But perhaps the mental advantage is with Sri Lanka.
The unexpected 22-run win in the first final in Adelaide puts them one match away from claiming a remarkable VB Series victory and they will relish playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground – a happy hunting ground for the tourists.
The Sri Lankans have won their last three matches at the SCG including a crushing 51-run win over Australia when they last meet at the venue in January.
In another omen, key Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya has scored two consecutive one-day centuries at the ground.
Captain Marvin Attapatu and keeper Kumar Sangakkara seem to have re-adjusted their approach to batting with great success while Tillakaratne Dilshan is sure to be brimming with confidence following his dream game (26 runs, four run outs and a catch) in the first final.
Add to the equation that the turning wicket may play into hands of the match-winning Muttiah Muralitharan, who recently announced that this may be his last tour of Australia, and Sri Lanka has very good reason to feel confident, too.
The game is officially sold-out. Play gets underway at 2.20pm AEDT.
