Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – 3rd ODI Asia Cup – Sri Lanka chose to bat in a must win game
Sri Lanka got of to an agressive start after skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, opted to bat first in the all important game against Pakistan, played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, on March 15, 2012.
Jayawardene, along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 provided his team with a rollicking start as they collected 17 from Aizaz Cheema's first over. Both men collected two boundaries each, pampering the off-side boundary.
The two went on to post 33 in the first 5 overs, and will be hoping to maintain the rythym in order to get back to winning ways, following a thumping defeat in their opeing encounter against the Men In Blue.
His decision to field first against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737, who both struck centuries. Their chase was on track before a batting collapse handed the Men In Blue the ascendency, which they pounced on duly and registered a 50-run victory.
Keeping this in mind, Jayawardene said on the toss report that it would not be a bad idea for his side to post runs on the board and try to defend it, considering they will be welcoming http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 back after he was rested in the first game.
"Runs on the board will be a good thing. It is still an open tournament. We have got to win. We need to tighten up in a few areas. Lasith comes back, Kapugedera is left out. We are going in with five bowlers," claimed the Lankan leader.
As for their opponents, they also made one change from the side which barely managed to outclass the host in the opening bout of the tournament. They have left-out http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Asad-Shafiq-c46208 and replaced him with promising young all-rounder Hammad Azam – where skipper Misbah-ul-Haq reckoned that it will give his side depth on the bowling front.
"We have added Hammad Azam who will give us more options with medium pace, he is basically a batsman. We have to pick ourselves as a batting unit, “Misbah said.
However, early signs have been dissapointing so far with Cheema'a medium pace bowling becoming to predictable on a pitch, which offered plenty of assistance to the batters. Earlier, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Manohar-Gavaskar-c91863 also commented that he would have loved to play on such track.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 playing XI:
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aizaz-Cheema-c961
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 Playing XI:
TM Dilshan, DPMD Jayawardene*, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RAS-Lakmal-c2287
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