India v Sri Lanka: Strengths and weaknesses

New Delhi: Following is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of India and Sri Lanka, who meet in the World Cup final on Saturday.

BATTING

* Overall: Too close to call

-- India have scored more runs overall (2194 at an average of 274 runs per innings to Sri Lanka's 1933 at an average of 242 runs per innings) at a better run rate (5.80 versus 5.70)

-- However, India have lost more wickets (58 v 40), providing a much healthier average per wicket for Sri Lanka (48.3 v 37.8)

* Openers: Slight advantage to Sri Lanka

-- The teams feature the two outstanding opening pairs in the tournament

-- The average opening stand of Sri Lanka (97.9) overshadows the Indian average (53.9)

-- The rate at which the openers have got the runs is where India have an advantage (strike rate of 102.6 for India v 90.1 for Sri Lanka)

* Middle Order (Numbers 3, 4, 5): Slight advantage to Sri Lanka

-- Both teams have the same strike rate of 86.5 although Sri Lanka have scored more runs per wicket lost (56.2 vs 41.6)

-- The Indian middle order have had more time in the middle (874 runs from 1010 balls compared to Sri Lanka's 731 runs from 845 balls)

Image: Sri Lanka's opener Tillakaratne Dilshan plays a shot for four runs during the Cricket World Cup semifinal match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

Text: Reuters
Images: AP

World Cup 2011