A crushing Kiwi win at the start of the tri-series in Dambulla briefly raised hopes of something other than yet another Sri Lanka-India clash in the final. But, alas, with Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum's paternity leave to blame, New Zealand success was as fleeting as Jacob Oram's fitness and the inevitable all-subcontinent showdown awaits on Saturday.

While we have seen our fair share of ODIs between the two teams there is still, however, enough to spice up this particular encounter. For a start it is the last fixture between Sri Lanka and India for the foreseeable future - reason for cheer in itself - which provides the opportunity for the victor to claim long-term bragging rights.

Before the tournament all the talk was about the ground's floodlights and the importance of winning the toss. Results have yielded that theory false and the surface at the Rangiri International Stadium in Dambulla has been commendably conducive to an equal contest between bat and ball. Of the 11 innings in the tri-series only three have passed the 200-mark and the opportunity for bowlers to shine has provided a fresh change, as well as rendering the outcome of Saturday's final more of a lottery.

The most astonishing aspect of the tourney thus has been the vastly contrasting fortunes of each side. No one team has dominated and every encounter has been heavily one-sided. Besides the one rained-out fixture only one match has not ended in a bonus point victory. Even that game between Sri Lanka and the Kiwis was a landslide, with the home side's dash leaving them a couple of balls short of the extra point. A tight final will provide a much-needed shot in the arm for ODI cricket.

The overly-friendly relationship between the Sri Lanka and India teams hit a rocky patch earlier in the tournament with Suraj Randiv's 'scandalous' overstep. After his one-match ban he's back and if India manage to bat for long enough he may even get another bowl at Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag is in irresistible form and has carried his team through to the final. He is comfortably the leading top run-scorer in the tri-series with 240 runs in four knocks, way out in front of his closest chaser - Tillakaratne Dilshan (129 runs). All eyes will be on the Indian talisman who will be the most influential player in the final and, as always, a pleasure to watch in full flight.

While Sehwag has been outstanding, the rest of the Indian batting line-up has folded horribly. The inexperienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have contributed just 23 runs in five innings between them, with the number three spot in the Indian batting line-up sporting a large vacant sign. With the imminent return of Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar this could be the last chance for Sharma, Kohli, and Dinesh Karthik to put there hands up for a more permanent spot.

Karthik has failed at the top of the order but may be afforded one last chance opening the batting, while it is anyone's guess which of Kohli and Sharma get the nod at number three. In the bowling ranks seamer Munaf Patel made a successful return to the side against the Black Caps with three wickets and he looks set to retain his place ahead of spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Sri Lanka are comfortably the more balanced side and will be extremely confident coming off their previous crushing victory over India on Sunday. The home side have a wealth of bowling talent, which they rotate at will depending on the conditions and opposition. Thisara Perera was the latest addition in Sri Lanka's last match and he duly claimed five Indian scalps.

He will surely be given a starting berth with Sri Lanka likely to retain the same team that trounced India last Sunday.

Expect the weather in Dambulla to be a hot 32 degrees Celsius with a touch of light rain predicted. As for the outcome, that's likely to fall in favour of the team to win the toss.

Kingpins

Sri Lanka: The wicket of Virender Sehwag will be top of Kumar Sangakkara's priority list and if Sri Lanka can claim his scalp early they will be halfway to winning the game. Nuwan Kulasekara's swing and accuracy did for the Indian opener early in the two sides' last encounter and if he gets it right again there'll be one large celebration in Dambulla.

India: The most encouraging aspect of India's tri-series campaign has been the form of their opening bowlers, who have consistently got amongst opposition wickets early. Praveen Kumar's form, swinging the new ball both ways in seaming conditions, will provide a potent threat to Sri Lanka's solid top-order. Right-armer Kumar currently sits top of the tri-series wicket-taking charts, along with tournament signoff Kyle Mills, and will surely add a couple more scalps in Saturday's final.

They Said

"A lot of people have tried a lot of plans but Sehwag is an excellent player if we can get him early it will be an advantage." - Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara realises the value of Virender Sehwag's scalp.

"When I was a youngster, it took me almost 50 to 70 innings to perform consistently, so we have to give more time to youngsters." - India veteran Virender Sehwag defends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Prediction

Mahendra Dhoni and his men play so much cricket these days, much of it fairly meaningless, that it is hardly surprising to see the odd lackluster performance. With an undoubted stock of talent, however, India are capable of turning it on when it counts, as they did in the Asia Cup final earlier in the year. More application from India's middle-order should see Dhoni lifting a trophy on Sri Lankan soil for the second time this year.

Probable Teams

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Suraj Randiv, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga.

India: Mahendra Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.

Douglas Saxby