Sri Lanka v Pakistan | 2nd ODI | Pallekele | 9/6/12 | Sri Lanka Innings

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Another tough test awaits batsmen

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran

June 8, 2012
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Match Facts

Saturday, June 9
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)

Misbah-ul-Haq and Dav Whatmore at a training session, Pallekele, June 8, 2012
Misbah-ul-Haq and Dav Whatmore will expect better fielding from Pakistan © AFP
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Related Links
Matches: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Pallekele
Series/Tournaments: Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka
Teams: Pakistan | Sri Lanka

The Big Picture

Weren't the limited-overs formats, especially in the subcontinent, supposed to be a batsman's game? The two Twenty20s in Hambantota and the first ODI in Pallekele have all been about the bowlers though, with the batsmen being tested in seaming conditions reminiscent of cricket in the early English summer. The frequent rain interruptions during Thursday's one-dayer added to that impression.

June is not cricket season in Sri Lanka traditionally, mainly due to the wet weather. Only two ODI series have been played in Sri Lanka in that month: the Nidahas Trophy in 1998 which had half its matches wiped out by rain, and the Asia Cup in 2010 which was held in the dry zone of Dambulla. Like the first ODI, rain is expected during Saturday's match.

Pakistan will like a repeat of the result on Thursday, but not a reprise of their fielding. They put down a handful of simple catches on their way to a straightforward victory, disproving the old adage that "catches win matches". Another aspect they will want to improve is the discipline while bowling - the 23 wides they bowled made up one-sixth of Sri Lanka's total.

Sri Lanka were pretty much out of the game within the first 15 overs, as their experienced top order failed against the swing and seam. They had slid to 68 for 6 when Saeed Ajmal was introduced. The form of Sri Lanka's top-three batsmen - Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, none of whom have crossed 20 in three games this series - remains a concern.

Form guide
(Most recent first)

Pakistan WWLWW
Sri Lanka LLLLL

Watch out for...

Mohammad Sami, playing his first ODI in more than five years, got a dream surface to bowl on which the ball was jagging around so much, the batsmen could barely get bat on it.. Sami revelled in the conditions, working up some solid pace as he finished with 3 for 19.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was the top run-getter in the CB series earlier this year, but had an indifferent time at both the Asia Cup and the IPL. The lacklustre run has continued in this series as well, with Dilshan going for the adventurous hits even before gauging the tricky tracks on offer.

Team news

One question for Pakistan to ponder is whether to get in an extra batsman, given how difficult run-making has proved. They went in with Shahid Afridi at No. 6 in the first ODI, making their batting line-up look a little shallow.

Pakistan (likely) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Sami

Despite the heavy defeat on Thursday, Sri Lanka are likely to go in with the same XI.

Sri Lanka (likely) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Lahiru Thirimanne, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Lasith Malinga

Stats and trivia

In their last 14 matches against Pakistan, Sri Lanka have crossed 250 only twice

With 30 wickets, Lasith Malinga is comfortably the leading wicket-taker of the year in ODIs

Sri Lanka are among Umar Akmal's preferred opposition sides: in 12 innings, he has a hundred and four half-centuries against them with his 506 runs coming at an average of 56.22

Siddarth Ravindran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
RSS Feeds: Siddarth Ravindran

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

We should bowl first !! :gul
 
Hopefully we have a full day of play. Insha allah. I want to see Shafiq ahead of YK today.
 
It's cloudy once again here in Kandy. Suppose to be a better day though with less rain interruptions! Feel batsmen will be pushed again. - RAMIZ
 
2pm It's overcast but not dry at the moment in Pallekelle. Mahela Jayawardene has won the toss, and on the same pitch at the same ground, he has chosen to bat again. Mahela is hoping for a better track: it hasn't rained yesterday so less moisture, he hopes. Sri Lanka have picked the same XI, but doesn't promise the same batting order
 
well not a bad toss to lose in these conditions, Come on Gul and co.
 
Rahat Ali will bowl the world's fastest bowl today :akhtar: The batsmen will be left dazzled at Rahat's lightning fast bowling
 
I would have gone for Cheema actually. Last time he played against Sri Lanka he took 4. What's he done wrong?
 
rahat doesn't bowl quicker than 135kmh, don't get excited :))

We're lucky to lose this toss again
 
i think a bad toss to lose for pakistan.if sl score 180-200+ it will be very difficult for pak to chase......
 
Even Misbah-ul-Haq. feels the pitch is drier than two days ago. Poor news for Pakistan: Mohammad Sami is out with a thumb injury. Left-arm quick Rahat Ali gets a debut. Misbah says he gets extra bounce, so watch out. By the looks of it, another quick from the unending supply from the conveyor belt of quicks in Pakistan
 
no rain at all since thursday, why were u reporting rain, OP?

well it was just a light shower according to Roshan Abeysinghe who's there at the ground.

Roshan Abeysinghe ‏@RoshanCricket 28m
Rain at Pallekele. Not strong but strong enough to have the covers on the pitch.
 
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i thought misbah will bring cheema , but surprised he has given rahat chance .. nice thinking
 
I'd expect SL to post something in the region of 240+.

Seems like the pitch is dryer according to the commies so bowling won't be as easy as the first game.
 
Very bad luck for Sami...he made an awesome comeback to the team and now injury
 
From Cricinfo: Poor news for Pakistan: Mohammad Sami is out with a thumb injury. Left-arm quick Rahat Ali gets a debut. Misbah says he gets extra bounce, so watch out. By the looks of it, another quick from the unending supply from the conveyor belt of quicks in Pakistan:))
 
gul and tanvir reverting to type when its not a bowlers wicket.
 
Tanvir has been much better than Gul barring that no ball.
 
From Cricinfo: Poor news for Pakistan: Mohammad Sami is out with a thumb injury. Left-arm quick Rahat Ali gets a debut. Misbah says he gets extra bounce, so watch out. By the looks of it, another quick from the unending supply from the conveyor belt of quicks in Pakistan:))

Allah Nazar -e- bad sey bachayie.. ameen :moyo
 
The Lankans are going well. 250 would be a competitive score. Again too much extras conceded by Pakistan.
 
Massive opportunity for Rahat! Insha'Allah he does well!
 
Want to see Rahat bowl. Cant wait letssee how good the kid is.
 
on the pad and flick it on the legside for a couple by dilshan
 
How difficult is it to bowl 4-5 delieveries at same spot.
 
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