Pak cannot chase anything above 250. So only way would be limit srl within 240.
Some of the posts prior to SAF match I can bring here, which foretasted what SAF would do if they bat first ......
Every game is new & it's built on momentum - against IND, PAK players were shocked by that last 4 overs onslaught. Today, Indian bowling faced the same once SRL started to counter attack. PAK's problem while chasing 250+ score is that 3 of their top 4 creates fear among the team with their extra cautious display - something embedded into PAK team under Misbah's style of leadership. This often makes a target of 256 like 319.
That philosophy helped Misbah's cause of justifying 65/70 type of own stats, selling the idea of saving collapse. But, I am sure Arthur is smart enough to fix this - Ahmed already is dropped, while the shot that Azhar played yesterday - he won't have ever tried during Misbah-Waquar era & still could have justified "consolidation". I won't be surprised if Fakhar & Azhar/MoHa (whoever opens) comes out with guns blazing - only Babar should be allowed to play his natural game, which most times reaches 80+ SR by 25th ball.
I don't think, SRL'll defend any total - if they are to win, they'll have to chase. Which, they actually are capable, because of couple of players in PAK top 4. SRL attack isn't penetrative at all, but it's decent restrictive attack, which can catch teams off-guard - particularly teams that has players like Azhar, MoHa in top 4, which easily can end up scores like 273/5 with one of them scoring a nice 110 of 127. If I were Arthur, batting first, I would have promoted Babar, Sarfu & Malik at 2, 3 & 4 - dropping MoHa at 5 & Azhar at 6, as alternate plan for 60/4 situation, otherwise Imad bats at 6.
This bowling strategy of SRL isn't new - in 90s, Arjuna often used to catch IND off-guard bowling first, with scores like 225/4, 270/3, 260/4 ... with Tendulkar cashing on a nice Ton, only later Sanath & Hari blasting their way to chase it, putting whole blame on the bowlers. MoHa is twice the selfish, with a fraction of ability, that too at his pomp (now he is a zombie of old-self)............. least said about Azhar is better.
such an overrated bunch
