Dominant Pakistan look to seal series

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Start time 1430 local (0900 GMT)

Some time in the past year, tables have turned, boots have switched feet, and these teams have exchanged personalities. So far in the series, Pakistan have been defined by consistency. Someone in the top three has found a way to make runs, the men in the middle have contributed, and Shoaib Malik has tapped into his experience to prove a canny finisher. Sri Lanka meanwhile, have relied on the spectacular performances - like Kusal Perera's in Pallekele - to remain competitive.

With Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Malik all in form, and Sarfraz Ahmed having turned in a substantial innings as well, the visitors will feel they have Sri Lanka's bowling well covered - particularly as the hosts' attack has been toothless. This situation, Sri Lanka fans have felt, is not helped by their refusal to play more than two specialist bowlers. Angelo Mathews has responded by saying they have considered the likes of Sachith Pathirana and Thisara Perera as front-line bowling options.

Pakistan's bowlers do not seem have such a pronounced edge over Sri Lanka's batsmen, despite Yasir Shah's rich haul on Sunday evening. Lahiru Thirimanne stroked his way to a significant score for the first time in the series, and in the Sri Lanka top seven, there is a mix of talent and experience that suggests the team can compete in one department at least. Any hope of Sri Lanka levelling this series lies in that batting order.

Security has been substantially beefed up for this match, after violence broke out in the stands then spread to the surrounding neighbourhood on Sunday evening. The players were never in great danger that evening, but Sri Lanka's authorities have made plans to deploy Special Task Force personnel through the venue.

Sri Lanka: LWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)

Pakistan: WLWWW

Lasith Malinga continues to battle substantial injury concerns, but arguably he does not help himself out by allowing the kilograms to pile on. He has been a diminished international bowler in the past year, but appears to harbour hopes of defending the World T20 crown he was instrumental in achieving in 2014. Mathews said he had had a chat to his spearhead about three modest outings so far, and hopes a corner will be turned.

He's among the more non-descript Pakistan bowlers, but Rahat Ali has found the means to trouble Sri Lanka's batsmen all through the tour, on every kind of surface. Sharp, with a natural length that invites the drive, Rahat has delivered incisive new-ball spells and posed a menace through the middle overs as well. He equals Hafeez as the highest wicket-taker with six scalps in the series so far.

Has Sri Lanka lost patience with Thisara Perera? His place seems the shakiest in this XI. Mathews also suggested Ashan Priyanjan could be in line for a return to the team, probably at the expense of Milinda Siriwardana.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 7 Ashan Priyanjan, 8 Sachith Pathirana, 9 Thisara Perera/ Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

Pakistan are unlikely to change a winning combination.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Azhar Ali (capt.), 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Mohammad Rizwan, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Anwar Ali, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Rahat Ali, 11 Mohammad Irfan

There are thunderstorms forecast for Wednesday afternoon, so there is a chance the match will go into its reserve day, on Thursday. Angelo Mathews said he didn't know what to make of the pitch, which both appeared dry, yet featured live grass.

"You can't have XI new players. I know that this is a transition period, but it has to be a smooth transition. Experience also matters. Younger players learn from the experienced guys. More often than not we think about injecting new blood into the system as well as the need to win. You need to have that correct combination when it comes to youth and experience. We've got a few experienced guys - TM Dilshan is one, Lasith Malinga is one, and Upul Tharanga has played quite a lot of one dayers. But all the others haven't played that many games." Angelo Mathews outlines Sri Lanka's current approach to selection