Openers Jayasuriya, Sehwag in explosive duel

DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka)  - Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene are looking forward to an explosive start to their one-day international series starting here Monday.

Sri Lanka’s left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya may be 39, but remains a bowler’s nightmare with his ability to change the course of a match with devastating strokeplay.

India will not easily forget their last encounter with the Sri Lankan, who hammered a quickfire century under pressure to set up his team’s victory in the Asia Cup final in Karachi last month.

India’s Virender Sehwag is an opener in form, having already hurt Sri Lanka with an unbeaten double-century in his team’s victory in the second Test of a recent three-match series.

Although India lost the series 2-1, Sehwag was one of the few batsmen to salvage batting pride as he emerged his team’s top scorer with 344 runs.