Pitch and conditions: Welcome to Colombo, the R. Premadasa Stadium, a venue that has staged some unforgettable games over the years and tonight promises to be another special one. It’s been a magnificent day here. The maximum temperature touched 32 earlier, but as evening sets in, it’s far more pleasant now. There’s a gentle breeze drifting across, around 10 to 11 kilometres per hour, just enough to keep things comfortable. The dimensions are interesting. Straight down the ground you’re looking at about 84 metres, square boundaries measure roughly 77 on one side and 71 on the other, while the shorter pockets are fine leg and third man, areas batters will certainly have in mind. This pitch can be misleading if you only look at the numbers. The stats might tell you that teams batting first haven’t always dominated here recently, but forget that, this is a belter. It’s dry, hard underneath, with a good covering of grass, about 3.5 millimetres rolled in. The ball will slide on nicely, allowing batters to hit through the line. Bounce, however, will be moderate and pace will be relative, typical Sri Lankan conditions. There will be a touch of spin, but more than anything, it’s about skill and execution. Arnold believes conditions won’t change much across the evening. Whether you bat first or second, it shouldn’t matter. The surface will stay true. It really comes down to how well you play. For me, 175 is a par score here tonight.
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