“The Battle Begins: Pakistan Takes on Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super Four”

Asia Cup Super Four: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

By | Published Today

Wellalage v Shafique

Wellalage is known for performing exceptionally well in big occasions. In his last match against India, he took a crucial five-for, including the dismissals of the top six batters. Today, he almost managed to get Abdullah Shafique caught behind, and followed it up with a close LBW shout. However, Shafique, who is known for his ability to play spin, responded to the close calls with a six over long on. This battle between Wellalage and Shafique has all the makings of an intense and spicy contest. Pakistan has started off slowly, but Captain Babar Azam is batting fluidly and maintaining a good tempo. After scoring only 13 runs in the first five overs, Pakistan has picked up the pace and has gone at a rate of 5.8 runs per over in the next six overs. At the end of 11 overs, Pakistan‘s score is 48/1.

Magical Madushan

Pramod Madushan made a spectacular delivery to dismiss Fakhar Zaman early in the match. With a yorker that clocked almost 140k, swinging in and dipping late, Madushan dismantled Zaman’s stumps. This dismissal ended Zaman’s night with the bat. In his place, Babar Azam, the world’s number one ODI batter, walked in. Pakistan‘s score after five overs is 13/1.

Will Fakhar redeem himself?

Fakhar Zaman, who had a poor performance in the previous match and was dropped from the team, has been given another chance to prove himself with Imam unavailable due to a back spasm. This is an opportunity for Zaman to regain the team management’s confidence. Abdullah Shafique will open alongside Zaman, with Haris coming in at number five. The weather is cloudy but clear for now. Pramod Madushan, who replaced Rajitha, has delivered a tight and incisive opening over. Shafique survived a close caught chance, but it was a promising start for Madushan.

Pakistan do a U-turn

Pakistan made five changes to their announced XI yesterday. However, they had to make two changes to the revised XI. Imam Ul Haq suffered a back spasm today, and Fakhar Zaman, who was dropped yesterday, has replaced him. Saud Shakeel, who was supposed to replace Agha Salman, has fallen ill, and Abdullah Shafique will take his place. Sri Lanka also made two changes, with Pramod Madushan replacing Kasun Rajitha and Kusal Perera returning in place of Dimuth Karunaratne. Kusal Perera could be a gamechanger in rain-hit, short games.

First ball at 5.15pm local.

The toss will be at 5:00 pm, and the match will start at 5:15 pm local time. The match will consist of 45 overs per side, with powerplay sessions at 9 overs, 27 overs, and 9 overs. The pitch conditions are similar to the Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh game, where Sri Lanka managed to defend a score of 250. Dominic Cork suggests that bowling first and restricting the opposition’s runs would be advantageous in the evening game under lights.

Update: Match conditions

If it is a 20-overs-a-side game, play must start by 9:02 pm local time. At the moment, there is still time for the game to happen today. Losing overs will begin from 4:30 pm local time. Currently, the drizzle has eased up, and some covers are being removed.

SL, ODI cricket, and ICC rankings

Sri Lanka, ranked number 8 in the ICC ODI rankings, are considered by many experts as favorites in today’s match. Despite their recent break of a 13-match winning streak, they are still favored against Pakistan. This raises the question of how strong Sri Lanka’s chances are at the upcoming ODI World Cup. According to the rankings, they are set for a poor finish. It is interesting to contemplate whether they can defy the rankings and perform well in the tournament.

Tackling rain – the Sri Lankan way

Sri Lanka’s ground staff are renowned as the best in world cricket. With rain delaying the toss and the start of the match, it is a good time to appreciate their expertise in handling such situations. Sri Lanka’s ground staff has a unique way of managing rain efficiently, and it would be interesting to understand their techniques further.

Kumble, Maharoof, Mumtaz in conversation

The toss, scheduled for 2:50 pm local time, has been delayed further due to rain. While waiting for the toss, viewers can watch a live conversation between Anil Kumble, Urooj Mumtaz, and Farveez Maharoof on Match Day.

We have our first delay

Due to rain, the toss has been delayed to 2:50 pm local time. It is likely that the game could be a shortened fixture as rain is predicted later. If the match is shortened, it raises the question of whether Pakistan should make changes to their announced XI. However, there are no reserve days in the Super 4s for non-India vs. Pakistan games. A washout today would send Sri Lanka straight into the final.

This is not the same Pakistan

The Pakistan XI that played in the opening match of the Asia Cup is significantly different from the XI playing today. Concerns over injuries and players’ form have led to five changes in the team. Fakhar Zaman, who had been out of form, has been replaced by Mohammad Haris. Saud Shakeel was supposed to replace Agha Salman, but he fell ill, resulting in Abdullah Shafique taking his place. Mohammad Wasim and Zaman Khan will replace Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Nawaz is back in the team instead of Faheem Ashraf. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, appears more settled with fewer changes, and they have an opportunity to capitalize on Pakistan‘s frailties in various areas. The weather update at 2:15 pm local time was cloudy, with the ground fully covered.

Welcome: all or nothing

The match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is a knockout fixture, with the winner facing India in the final and the loser bidding farewell to the Asia Cup. It promises to be an exciting encounter where players can showcase their abilities and handle pressure on the big stage. However, it is essential to remember that a washout could result in Sri Lanka advancing into the final due to a better Net Run Rate. Pakistan‘s Net Run Rate suffered a blow after their 228-run defeat against India, and there is also the possibility of rain affecting the game.