Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – ICC World T20 1st semi-final – Match Preview
After a week of exuberating cricket in the ICC World T20, hosts Sri Lanka meet familiar opponents http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the first semi-final, played today, October 4, 2012, at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, hoping to secure a berth in the final of another major ICC event.
The Lankans have shown shrewdness, both off and on the pitch, and are worthy holders of their current position in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760.
Their Super Eight passage was where they showed an overall spark, with the team getting most of their tactical decisions right – promoting skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 the captain in the last game in order to limit the risk of losing their original skipper to a ban, following a slow-over rate offense against the Windies.
In short, all has fallen into place for the home team, where their top-order has done plenty of damage in the PowerPlays, while the bowlers have chipped in with regular wickets. The spin department remained their biggest worry but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540, have blossomed as the competition has progressed.
Their next task is a daunting one, which sees them taking on the Men in Green, against whom they have had limited success over the past couple of years. However, they still managed to beat their sub-continent rivals in a series earlier in the year, at home, which will give them plenty of confidence going into a crunch game.
The home support will be on offer, which could be an added motivation for them to maintain their impressive run in global events. They finished runners up in the 50-over format last year, but would love to go all the way this time round to get their hands on major silverware since 1996.
Jayawardene has hinted little about any possible changes, and one expects them to field the same line-up, which knocked out defending champions, England.
The Pakistani contingent, be it the team or their large fan base, have enthralled everyone with their dynamic, at times listless, displays and their fourth consecutive appearance in a T20 semi-final is testament to the talent they have at their disposal.
Apart from the blip against arch-rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 failing to emulate his old-clinical self. However, the Lankans have generally played spin well and may not get intimidated by the prospect of facing four spinners.
The Men in Green are unlikely to change their winning XI, which saw http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Arafat-c98241.
Surprisingly, this will be http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758’s first game at Colombo in this competition. The other tracks - Hambantota and Pallekele – have been livelier as compared to Colombo, where the deck has offered plenty of assistance to the spinners. Anything above 160 will be difficult to chase.
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