Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – 2nd ODI – Fast bowlers in the spotlight
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 so far has been heavily dominated by the bowlers on both sides, with the batsmen struggling to keep up. In the two-match T20 series, and the one ODI that has been played, the highest score a batsman has averaged is a 52 by Shahid
Afridi – the only half-century as yet.
However, with the pace-friendly surfaces in Hambantota and later Pallekele, the fast-bowlers have been in their element and proved to be the most valuable assets for both sides, adding the necessary excitement factor to what have otherwise been low-scoring
games.
The visitors have the upper hand so far, having levelled the T20 series with a 23-run win in the second match, and followed that up with a 6-wicket win in the first ODI.
“What makes them competitive is the sort of bowling options available, apart from the specialists,” Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene had observed about his opponents prior to the start of the T20 series, and he wasn’t mistaken – so far in the tour,
the Pakistani bowlers have managed to claim a combined total of 24 wickets in 3 innings.
However, the Sri Lankan bowling attack is not without its strengths, and with the 2nd ODI due to be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today on June 9, the competition looks to be a stiff one if the pacers on both sides are
to be compared.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Sami-c77289
Returning to play an ODI series after a period of roughly five years (with his last having been played in 2007, also against Sri Lanka), Sami has taken the competition by storm and is currently the highest wicket-taker, with 7 scalps to his credit.
Sami got off to a decent start of the tour, claiming 1 for 22 in the first T20, but from there onwards, he has managed two 3-wicket hauls, with excellent economy to boot – a 3 for 16 in the second T20, and a 3 for 19 in the first ODI. With an ideal surface
at his disposal, Sami is bound to give the Lankan batsmen a run for their money, and finally cement himself a permanent place in the line-up.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802
Having claimed a total of 5 wickets in the tournament so far, Kulasekara is the Lankans’ highest wicket-taker in the current competition so far. Following an international debut in 2003, the right-hander’s career currently spans 118 ODIs, with a total of
125 scalps to his credit.
Fresh from a stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2012, Kulasekara got off to a strong start, claiming 2 for 13 in the first T20, and registering similar figures in the second match. The first ODI saw him claim a 1 for 29, but
with conditions looking favourable for pacers, the 29-year-old has the potential to enable his side to gain an easy upper hand over their visitors.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604
While his unimpressive 0 for 43 in the first T20 led to his being excluded from the playing XI for the second match, Umar Gul bounced back in spectacular fashion in the first ODI, claiming a crucial 3 for 24, taking three quick wickets in the first 10 overs
of the match. Openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831 on duck.
The 28-year-old is in prime form, having claimed a total of 9 wickets in the Asia Cup earlier this year in March, and followed that up with a respectable performance in the domestic circuit for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Peshawar-c832 Panthers. He is bound to serve as one of the spearheads
of Pakistan’s bowling attack throughout their tour of Sri Lanka.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540
Currently among the most renowned pacers in the Lankan, arsenal, 28-year-old Malinga is in the running for the leading ODI wicket-taker of the year, with 30 scalps to his name. While the fiery pacer hasn’t been as devastating as he has the potential to be,
he has managed to claim 3 wickets in the 2 matches he has played so far in the current series against Pakistan.
He claimed 2 for 12 in the first T20, but did not play in the second match. The first ODI saw him posting figures of 1 for 24, and the pacer will be looking to improve on his performances, and restrict Pakistan from claiming a third consecutive victory.
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