Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – 3rd ODI – Match Preview
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and Pakistan will take on each other today in the third of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The series is level at the moment with one game each and both teams are geared
up to take a lead, going into the fourth fixture.
The home team looked completely out of sorts in the first match at Pallekele as they struggled with both bat and ball and looked a far inferior team as compared to the Green Shirts. After that game, all the cricket experts were predicting
the Pakistan team to thrash the Islanders in the remainder of the ODIs.
However, against all odds, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 and company rose to the occasion in the second fixture at the same venue and silenced their critics through some extra-ordinary performances in all departments of the game.
Sri Lanka’s batting has been a major concern for them in recent times but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 batted out of his skin in the second ODI and scored a magnificent hundred to lay a platform for his team’s victory.
Thisara Perera, who was named the Player of the Match for his all-round performance, seems to be peaking as a cricketer and is emerging as a star in the sporting world. Apart from his six wickets, the all-rounder played a little batting
cameo, which gave the desired momentum to Sri Lanka at the end of the innings.
The home team will be looking to replicate their performance in Colombo in order to dismantle the Green Shirts once again. Since the last one year, the Pakistani spinners have had a strangled hold on the young Sri Lankan batsmen,
which means that the responsibility lies on the three senior players once again. If the home team is to take a lead in the series, one out of Dilshan, Jayawardene or http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 will have to bat through the innings.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, on the other hand, were exposed in the last game in various aspects. Many experts have been saying that the current combination lacks batting depth in the 50-overs format and it was quite evident in the previous match. Misbah
ul Haq and company may have to rethink their strategy before going into the third match, as Pakistan may not afford to lose the third ODI.
The Pakistan captain admits that his team will have to raise their game in all the facets, especially fielding, which has been below par on the current tour.
"Our fielding has been an on and off problem for us for a long time now. We have not been consistent in this department. In the last few days everybody has been practicing hard on their fielding. After Saturday’s loss there is no
margin for error and we will need to give our best tomorrow,” said Misbah.
The veteran cricketer however, is optimistic about a good performance in the remainder of the series as Pakistan has historically done well in Colombo, where the conditions are quite similar to the ones back home.
Pakistan’s captain feels, “Our record is good at the R. Premadasa Stadium. If you remember, during the World Cup, we defeated both http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and Sri Lanka. Before that when we were here in 2009, we won a few games.”
After the second game, both the teams are even and there is not much to pick between the two sides. There is a danger of rain-interruption in today’s fixture and let us hope that we witness a complete 50-overs a side match.
Tags: