Pakistan thrill against Sri Lanka efficiency.
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Mirpur.
Match facts
March 8, 2014
Start time 14.00 local (0800 GMT)
Big Picture
After his team had narrowly beaten
India, Angelo Mathews said Sri Lanka "do those little things right".
In a tournament full of rash shots and missed opportunities on the field, Sri
Lanka have committed fewer basic errors than all the other sides. It goes quite
a way towards explaining their unbeaten record in the tournament so far.
Pakistan, on the other hand, threw
away a winning position against Sri Lanka. They were 117 for 6 against
Afghanistan thanks to the shot selection of their top order. Misbah-ul-Haq has
twice been run out in comical fashion. Against Bangladesh, Abdur Rehman was
barred from bowling when he had figures of 0-0-8-0. And yet, despite all that,
Pakistan may well start the final as favourites.
After meeting each other in the
opening game of the tournament, the two sides have taken divergent paths to the
final. Sri Lanka, to put it a touch simplistically, have gone quietly about
their business. Pakistan, on the other hand, have built up the sort of momentum
that comes with winning thrilling matches. When you beat India by one wicket
and chase 327 in your next game, you tend to believe you can win from any
position.
Pakistan's batsmen, after an
uncertain start to the tournament, have also found form. There's Shahid Afridi,
of course, but there's also Mohammad Hafeez, who has scored half-centuries in
his last two games, Ahmed Shehzad, who made a century against Bangladesh, and
Fawad Alam, whose return to the side suddenly gave Pakistan someone who could
hold their middle order together. It's almost a good thing for Pakistan,
perversely, that Misbah, the man who usually does that job for them, has scored
0, 1 and 4 in the matches they have won.
Pakistan, though, have two major
concerns going into the final. One is the form of their fast bowlers. Junaid
Khan, Umar Gul and Mohammad Talha - their likely first-choice combination -
have all been expensive, giving away close to or over run-a-ball. The second is
the fitness of four of their players. Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Afridi and Gul
have niggles of various kinds.
Of the four, Afridi, who picked up a
hip injury in the game against Bangladesh, looked most in doubt, and showed
signs of discomfort during Pakistan's training session on Friday. But their
manager, Zakir Khan, said he was responding well to the physio's ministrations,
and it seemed as if Pakistan wouldn't leave him out unless it became absolutely
unavoidable.
Sri Lanka, for their part, haven't
completely convinced as a batting unit. Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews and
Lahiru Thirimanne have scored runs, but the rest of the top six have been
patchy. Kusal Perera has tended to throw away starts, while Dinesh Chandimal
and Mahela Jayawardene have looked out of form. Sri Lanka bat deep, though, and
match-turning contributions in a final are as likely to come from a Chaturanga
de Silva or a Thisara Perera as they are to come from a top-order batsman.
The pitches in Mirpur have been a
little unpredictable, with one side of the square tending to produce uneven
bounce and another throwing up good batting conditions. Spinners have played a
massive role regardless of which pitch is used, though, and the most important
mini-contest in the match could be the one between the two slow-bowling
attacks.
In Ajantha Mendis, de Silva and
Sachithra Senanayake, Sri Lanka have one potential match-winner and two capable
ODI bowlers. Pakistan's spin attack, with Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi seems
to hold a slight edge, especially in terms of the experience they have bowling
as a unit.
Lahiru Thirimanne struck an accomplished century against Pakistan in the
opening game of the tournament, and has continued to look good at the crease
without making any other big scores. Batting up the order seems to suit his game,
and a good innings in the final could win him a longer run as an opener even
after Tillakaratne Dilshan returns to the side.
Mohammad Hafeez scored three centuries against Sri Lanka during the recent
ODI series in the UAE, and has shown glimpses of that form in the Asia Cup. His
bowling has been crucial as well, and he's done a useful job with the new ball.
He'll probably do that in the final too, considering the number of left-hand
batsmen in Sri Lanka's top order.
Team news
Ashan Priyanjan took two wickets
with his offspin against Bangladesh and timed the ball sweetly during his brief
stay in the middle. But he was in the side only because Sri Lanka had already
qualified for the final, and he will most likely make way for Chandimal. Lasith
Malinga should also regain his place, but it's hard to predict who they'll
leave out in his place.
Sri Lanka (likely): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Lahiru Thirimanne, 3 Kumar
Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Angelo Mathews
(capt), 7 Chaturanga de Silva, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Sachithra Senanayake/Suranga
Lakmal, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Ajantha Mendis
Pakistan have a few fitness worries,
with Afridi (hip), Shehzad (shoulder), Sharjeel (knee) and Gul (general
soreness) at less than 100 per cent. None of the injuries are particularly
serious, though, judging by the comments of their manager on the eve of the
match, so they should be able to field their first-choice XI.
Pakistan (likely): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3
Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 4 Sohaib Maqsood, 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Umar Akmal (wk), 7
Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Mohammad Talha, 11 Junaid Khan
Stats and trivia
·
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have met each other 12 times in tournament
finals, and each side has won six times
·
Among batsmen who haven't scored an ODI century, Misbah-ul-Haq has the
most career runs. On Saturday, he will go out for the toss alongside Angelo
Mathews, who is ninth on that list.
Quotes
"I don't know, honestly. One
day it looks like 200 is difficult, the next day on the same pitch you chase
down 300-plus."
Misbah-ul-Haq on the vagaries of the Mirpur pitch
Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor.
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