Daijiworld Media Network
Pallekele, Jul 15 : Welcome to the second ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Pallekele. In the first game, on the back of Mohammad Hafeez's superb all-round performance with both bat and ball, Pakistan registered a convincing win. He picked up four wickets and then went on to post a well-constructed hundred. The experienced, Shoaib Malik, too, played with a calm head on his shoulders. For the hosts, Chandimal was the top-scorer, but their bowlers struggled to make their mark. Even their spearhead, Lasith Malinga was below par.
Sri Lanka perhaps will look to change their bowling combination. There is a chance that Senanayake will play. On the other hand, Pakistan are expected to remain unchanged. Unfortunately, showers are forecast for today. Fingers crossed that we will get a full game.
Pakistan have won the toss and have opted to bat
Angelo Mathews: 'I've got no control at all over the toss. He calls it right all the time. I would have batted first as well. We have a couple of changes. Suranga Lakmal and Seekkuge Prasanna are out, Sachith Pathirana is making his debut, Nuwan Pradeep is also in. The batters got starts in the last game, but really didn't convert them. Also the bowlers need to do better. It's a happy hunting ground for him (Dilshan), hopefully he'll score runs today.'
Azhar Ali: 'We are going to bat first. It looks a decent track and we would like to put runs on the board. I think he (Hafeez) is keeping things very simple and he's very confident that he'll clear the test (talking about Hafeez awaiting the test results on his bowling action). We discussed a few things that we could have done better in the first game. We won the first game, but we know they are a good side at home.'
There is news coming in that Sri Lanka have a debutant in Sachith Pathirana. Nuwan Pradeep is also expected to take the field.
Pitch Report: 'It (the pitch) looks nice and hard, there are a few cracks but I don't think they will come into play. It will stay the same throughout the game, so the toss really doesn't matter. I think there are a lot of runs to be had. It might move around a bit under lights in the evening. It is a bit cloudy but I'd say take that out of the mind, win the toss and bat first,' reckons Russel Arnold.
Teams:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Azhar Ali(c), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews(c), Dinesh Chandimal(w), Sachith Pathirana, Thisara Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep
13:40 Local Time, 08:10 GMT, 13:40 IST: It is partly cloudy out there and the players are seen warming up.
Match Preview :
After a thumping victory thanks to an all-round show from Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistan will start as favorites in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka at Pallekele. The visitors have the momentum after breezing to victory in the first of the five-match series. Azhar Ali's men have little to worry about in terms of team combinations but in stark contrast, hosts Sri Lanka will be pondering a number of issues as they look to draw level. There is some rain predicted on Wednesday and the weather could influence the decision of both teams while forming the final eleven as well as the strategies required to tackle the conditions. The seamers are bound to get assistance under the floodlights in the second-half of the game but the prevailing weather conditions mean that teams would prefer chasing keeping the Duckworth-Lewis system in mind.
Date: 15th July 2015
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Time: 14:30 PM Local Time
Team news
Sri Lanka
Not a lot went right for Angelo Mathews' men in the first ODI. Their top order was guilty of not carrying on after getting off to starts. They still managed a respectable total thanks to Dinesh Chandimal's half-century. Batting remains Sri Lanka's greater strength at the moment and they will need a much better show from their senior players to get into a position of strength and ease the pressure of the bowling attack. The combinations might be tinkered with to fit in a more experienced spinner in Sachitra Senanayake. The pacers will have to pull up their socks and the leader of the attack Lasith Malinga will be under the spotlight to guide the younger members. His form will be crucial to the fortunes of Sri Lanka.
Probable XI: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Sachitra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal
Pakistan
Azhar Ali's men need a comprehensive series win to try and qualify for the Champions Trophy. They have got off to a good start but will need to sustain the momentum. The presence of all-rounders like Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik does give the team more options with bat and ball. The duo will have a key role to perform throughout the series in mentoring the youngsters and leading the way with good performances themselves. Both of them ticked those boxes in the first ODI. The addition of Mohammad Irfan has added an extra edge to the bowling attack. The lanky pacer has had success against Sri Lanka and will be once again looked upon to create and maintain the pressure first up. The visitors are unlikely to tinker with a winning combination.