Asia Cup 2012: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808
Fresh from a disappointing loss at the hands of reigning World Champions http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the tournament opener, Sri Lankans are gearing up to play an unpredictable Pakistan side in their second match of the ongoing Asia Cup tournament at the Shere Bangla stadium
in Mirpur, Dhaka on Thursday, March 15, 2012.
Whilst the Islanders will be facing a must-win situation to keep their hopes of making the tournament final alive, Pakistan will be looking forward to confirm a spot in the March 22 final by winning today's match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604’s brilliant bowling in the death overs, and must be hoping for a polished performance against the resurgent Islanders.
Though Pakistan returned victors in Sunday’s nail-biter against Bangladesh with a 21-run margin, they have plenty to ponder upon, especially in the batting department. Their batting has been a major let down of late, specifically the middle-order, featuring
likes of Younis Khan and the skipper himself.
In the match against Bangladesh, the opening duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed provided the side with steady start of 135 runs but the fragile middle-order once again failed to capitalize on it as the Green Shirts were reeling at 198 for 7. Had it
not been for some late hitting from the lower-order batsmen Umar Gul and wicketkeeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, it might have been a different story.
Pakistani batsmen, specially the middle-order, will have to take the responsibility and play some sensible cricket, if they want to move an inch closer to the tournament finals.
Bowling will be once again their strength, with pacer Umar Gul and spinner Mohammad Hafeez complimenting each other very well with the new balls.
However, today's match will depend much upon Afridi and Ajmal, and how they contain the formidable Lankan batting line up with their aggressive spin bowling.
Coming to the Sri Lankan camp, they have a world-class top order, including the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hettige-Don-Rumesh-Lahiru-Thirimanne-c63124 compliment the experienced top order
in the middle-overs.
Chandimal has been outstanding in the recently concluded Commonwealth Bank series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and must be aiming to go one better when his side takes Pakistan in the second match of the quadrangular One-Day tournament.
Untimely injuries to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802 provides the Islanders with depth in their batting.
Going by the first two games played at the Shere Bangla Stadium so far, one can anticipate a typical batting friendly sub-continent wicket on which the ball comes on to the bahttp://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thomas-George-Burrows-c93472 nicely.
Teams(probable):
Sri Lanka: 1 Mahela Jayawardene(c), 2 T Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara(wk), 4 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540
Pakistan: 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aizaz-Cheema-c961
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