Colombo: After three matches of the five-match series, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are at par with each other. Pakistan won the first match and Sri Lanka the second one. The third match of the ODI had no result due to rain. Thus, it is difficult to say which of the teams have an upper hand and this makes Saturday’s match more interestingly unpredictable.
After rain played spoilsport to the third one-dayer and threatens to come in the remaining two ODIs, but Sri Lankan board has kept reserve days in case of rain.
On the bowling front, Pakistan scores a point over Sri Lanka with the likes of Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Muhammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi in their line-up. Moreover, captain Misbah-ul-Haq provides stability to the middle-order in the company of the experienced Younis Khan.
For Pakistan it’s a more balanced side with a mix of youth and experience. After starting off with a win in the series, the visiting side gave up the momentum in the second one-dayer, but have an edge going into the last two matches.
On the other hand Sri Lanka with key allrounders Thisara Perera, Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne in their side, the hosts have all the possibility to clinch the series. But the matter of concern for Sri Lanka is the form of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Probable XIs:
Pakistan: 1 Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Shahid Afridi, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Mohammad Sami, 8 Saeed Ajmal, 9 Sarfraz Ahmed, 10 Sohail Tanvir, 11 Umar Gul
Sri Lanka: 1 Mahela Jayawardene (captain), 2 Dinesh Chandimal, 3 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 4 Kumar Sangakkara, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Lahiru Thirimanne, 7 Nuwan Kulasekara, 8 Lasith Malinga, 9 Angelo Mathews, 10 Thisara Perera, 11 Sachithra Senanayake
Interesting Article :-)
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