Sri Lanka hope to finish World Cup duck in opposition to Pakistan
Big image
It appears weird, given it is a World Cup recreation, however simply three weeks in the past Pakistan and Sri Lanka performed an ODI that arguably mattered extra. They battled it out to the ultimate ball of a knockout match on the Asia Cup, with Sri Lanka stealing the win and reserving a berth within the last. Hindsight may solid Tuesday’s fixture in Hyderabad to be simply as pivotal, however in the meanwhile nothing feels so pressing, so drastic, as every little thing did in Colombo.
Both sides have performed one recreation on this World Cup. Neither made the strongest first impression, however Pakistan have two factors, whereas Sri Lanka have bruises. The mitigating circumstance, in fact, is that Pakistan performed Netherlands and nonetheless regarded shaky throughout sure passages of play, whereas Sri Lanka took on a South African batting juggernaut, and for some time gave nearly as good as they received in a frenetic, if finally unsuccessful chase.
Sri Lanka at the moment are in Hyderabad which, as Babar Azam stated earlier, has already begun to really feel a bit like dwelling for Pakistan. They have been right here since they arrived in India two weeks in the past, and can play one final recreation within the metropolis earlier than transferring to Ahmedabad. They know there have been loads of imperfections in that victory in opposition to Netherlands, not least with the openers’ lack of kind, however fortuitously for Pakistan their center order has immediately sprung to life. And for all their worries about lack of management with the ball within the center overs, Haris Rauf confirmed he was again to his greatest, discovering wickets by means of that interval and blasting batting line-ups huge open.
Sri Lanka may simply think about writing off their bowling efficiency in opposition to South Africa and beginning over. Few bowling models can management a South African onslaught in full stream, as Australia found final month within the a bilateral sequence. Pakistan don’t possess that sort of energy, and Hyderabad is much less more likely to be conducive to the sort of monstrous hitting Sri Lanka could not stand up to in Delhi.
They might be buoyed by the style through which they went concerning the chase, demonstrating their very own means to tackle a bowling assault relentlessly throughout 50 overs. Meanwhile, reminiscences of the management they possessed throughout a chilly, calculated chase in opposition to Pakistan in that high-pressure Asia Cup fixture ought to energy their perception they will lastly break their World Cup duck (0-7) in opposition to Pakistan.
Form information
Pakistan WLLWW (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first) Sri Lanka LLWLW
In the highlight
Fakhar Zaman’s poor kind has received essentially the most consideration, however Imam-ul-Haq’s runs seem to have tapered off as nicely. He has just one rating above 16 in his final seven 50-over video games together with the World Cup warm-ups. While there isn’t a motive to consider he is not absolutely match, Pakistan might want to see him show it with runs in a prime order that has immediately run dry. In Sri Lanka, he has a bowling unit theoretically ripe for plunder after what South Africa did to them, and a chance to enter Pakistan’s recreation in opposition to India with World Cup runs below his belt.
Charith Asalanka is likely one of the greatest middle-overs batters on the earth in the meanwhile. No one has scored extra runs batting at No. 5 or decrease since his ODI debut, and his 1327 runs have come at a median above 45 and a strike charge above 90. Time and once more, he has maintained – or supplied – impetus to a Sri Lankan innings by means of the center, and broke Pakistan hearts with a nerveless unbeaten 49 to knock them out of the Asia Cup final month. After an detached couple of warm-ups, he was again in kind in opposition to South Africa, prime scoring with a 65-ball 79. So his kind, mixed with the query mark over Pakistan’s spinners, will make that passage of play an intriguing and presumably match-defining one.
Team news
Pakistan’s solely actual query surrounds how, or whether or not, to suit Usama Mir into their XI. But with a win at this venue on Friday, count on them to go unchanged.
Pakistan (attainable) 1 Fakhar Zaman 2 Imam-ul-Haq 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Iftikhar Ahmed 7 Shadab Khan 8 Mohammad Nawaz 9 Hasan Ali 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi 11 Haris Rauf
Sri Lanka might think about a change or two of their bowling line-up after what occurred in opposition to South Africa. Maheesh Theekshana did not begin that recreation with an damage however is obtainable for Tuesday’s recreation. He may substitute Kasun Rajitha.
Some cloud cowl is anticipated in Hyderabad through the recreation, however no rain. The pitch ought to be conducive to large scores; New Zealand scored 322 in opposition to the Netherlands in Hyderabad on Monday.
Stats and trivia
Imam is 9 in need of 3000 ODI runs. If he will get them tomorrow, it’ll have taken him 67 innings. Only Hashim Amla (57) has received there faster. Fakhar Zaman and Shai Hope additionally took 67 innings, whereas Babar Azam wanted 68.
Sri Lanka have by no means crushed Pakistan on the ODI World Cup, shedding all seven accomplished matches. The sides’ conflict in 2019 was washed out.
Quotes
“We have faith in our players to know what they need to do to prepare. Some have chosen to prepare another way instead of draining out energy at training today. From a coaching point of view, I’m very happy with that”
Pakistan head coach Grant Bradburn backs the choice of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq not to participate in an non-obligatory coaching session on the eve of the match
.jpg)
