Pakistan v Sri Lanka: 4th ODI – Pakistani players to watch out for
The fourth ODI between Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 is just round the corner and both teams are evenly poised at this moment. The fourth match of the series will be contested at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, tomorrow (Saturday) on June 16, 2012.
Last Sunday, on a rain-affected, low-scoring match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan chased down a modest target of 135 set by a hapless Sri Lankan batting performance, and won the match by 6 wickets with healthy contributions from Mohammad
Hafeez, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 and Umar Akmal.
The Lankans bounced back strongly in the second ODI at the same venue. Posting a daunting total of 280 courtesy a superb century by opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, the hosts managed to draw the series and gave
a strong statement to their opponents.
The venue shifted to R Premadasa Stadium Colombo, for the third ODI, where the rain held the match hostage and the play had to be stopped but not before giving Pakistan a jittery start and a lot to ponder over.
After winning the toss, the tourists lost both its openers under overcast conditions, failing to negotiate the swing from the Lankan opening bowling pair of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802. The weather came to Men In Green’s rescue and the match was
finally abandoned due to incessant rain.
Therefore, the fourth ODI is of great significance for both teams as the winner on Saturday would naturally have a psychological advantage on the loser, while going into the fifth match. With a mix of young and experienced personnel, it remains to be seen
how the visitors respond to this challenge. Bettor picks a few players to watch-out for tomorrow’s battle at Premadasa.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325
A veteran of 244 matches, he’s the second most capped player in the side after Shahid Afridi. The talented right-handed batsman has nothing to prove with his already established credentials but keeping in view his recent form, Younis Khan is long-due for
a big innings, and this could just be the right time to hit the button.
2011-12 hasn’t been a very impressive season for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745. Occupying the crucial one-down position, the veteran has the talent and the ability to deliver
when it is needed the most and will be eager to silence his critics.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Asad-Shafiq-c46208
One of the most talented new-comers to come up along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Ali-c46890, Asad Shafiq has both promise and talent. After making his debut back in June, 2010, the youngster hasn’t been a permanent member within the ODI lineup. The 2011-2012 season
has left a lot to be desired as far as ODIs are concerned, keeping in mind that during the same period, the youngster has managed an impressive Test average of 46.77.
The middle-order batsman only accumulated 140 runs in seven matches, averaging a disappointing 20. Although, he only played four matches in 2012 before the rain-abandoned third ODI in Sri Lanka, still a lot is expected from the young batsman to grab this
opportunity with both hands and send a strong message to his detractors as he has the potential to deliver.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482
The one and only, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 team bowling lineup
for quite some time now.
Where he fails with the bat, he delivers it with the ball, an excellent fielder with a commanding on-field aura that makes him a crowd-puller. But Afridi hasn’t made his mark in the ongoing ODI series, both with bat and ball, averaging 19 and 62 respectively.
While the figures certainly don’t speak well for this powerhouse of talent, but one expects him to bounce back in the upcoming ODI given his pedigree against the Lankans.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859
Ajmal had an amazing season where he grabbed 33 wickets in 17 matches at an impressive average of 18.87. He has been economical with his bowling figures during the current series and troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen with his variations but he hasn’t grabbed
enough wickets to set the series aflame. He’s the most lethal weapon in Pakistan’s bowling armory and an Ajmal magic could just turn the table in Pakistan’s favour in the fourth ODI.
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