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After leveling the three-match series by winning the previous Test at P. Sara Oval Stadium, team India will travel to the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo looking to seal the series. With a capacity of 10,000 people, the ground has stands built by various sponsors like Lankabell, Seylan Bank, and HSBC with two grass embankments for the spectators. The SSC is known to assist pacers and spinners equally, with best bowling figures at the ground being 19/8 in ODI’s and 191/14 in Tests for Chaminda Vass.
SSC Colombo hosted its first Test match in 1984 when Sri Lanka played against the New Zealand team in low scoring game which ended in a draw. A total of 38 Test matches have been played at this venue so far with results coming out in 24 of them, 12 draws and 2 being cancelled. Sri Lanka has an impressive record in Tests at this venue with 18 wins, 6 losses and 14 matches being drawn.
A batsman’s paradise, the highest total at this venue is 642 run in the first innings and 756 runs in the second innings and both of them were by Sri Lanka against India and South Africa respectively. The highest individual score at the SSC is a massive 374 by Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006. The best bowling figures of the SSC Colombo venue belongs to Rangana Herath when he took 9 wickets against Pakistan last year by giving away just 127 runs. And the best bowling figures for an away bowler are 6 for 64 by Daniel Vettori against Sri Lanka in 1998.
| Date | Opposition | Result | Scores | Margin | MOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26-30 July 2010 | India | Match Drawn | SL- 642/4 dec &129/3 dec IND - 707 |
| Kumar Sangakkara |
| 16-20 July, 2011 | Australia | Match Drawn | AUS - 316 & 488 SL - 473 & 7 |
| Mike Hussey |
| 30 June - 4 July 2012 | Pakistan | Match Drawn | PAK - 551/6 dec & 100/2 dec SL - 391 & 86/2 |
| Junaid Khan |
| 24- 28 July 2014 | South Africa | Match Drawn | SL - 421 & 229/8 dec SA - 282 & 159/8 |
| Mahela Jayawardene |
| 14- 18 August, 2014 | Pakistan | SL Won | SL - 320 & 282 PAK - 332 & 165 | SL Won by 105 runs | Rangana Herath |
From the following table, we can see that out of the last five matches played at the venue four have been drawn and the last one against Pakistan was won by Sri Lanka. This means that the match might head towards a draw. India will have to use their spin resources well in order to restrict them.
Wicket distribution between Spinners and Pacers
| No | Type of Bowler | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spinners | 85 |
| 2 | Pacers | 50 |
From this wicket distribution, we can see that spinners get more out of the SSC Colombo pitch and can use it to their benefit. Both India and Sri Lanka have good spinners can spin their own webs and try to castle the opposition. Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s match-winner in the last game will play a big part in the deciding third Test after his 8 wicket haul in the previous Test.
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