Sri Lanka kept faith with their inexperienced middle order, resisting the temptation to call back Tillakaratne Dilshan after their five-wicket defeat in Christchurch. Mahela Jayawardene also insisted on batting first after winning the toss again. Sri Lanka acknowledged that they were asking a lot of their young batsmen in unfamiliar conditions, but they were convinced that their best chance of winning involved Muralitharan bowling in the last innings.
Sangakkara bristled with positive intent and determination from the time he marched in to bat in the second over. He looked at ease against all the bowlers and mercilessly pounced on anything loose. The closest he came to being dismissed was a missed run out chance from Matthew Sinclair in the 90s. Otherwise, he looked as secure as a barn door