Abu Dhabi: After flaying Sri Lanka out with their fiery pace in the first One Day International, Pakistan will be looking to carry their momentum into the second day-night encounter at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday. The action starts at 3pm.
Right-arm pacer Hasan Ali (3 for 36) and left-armer Rumman Raees (3 for 49) had flung the Lankans off track in the steep run chase of 292.
The visitors will be wary of the duo and hoping that their frontline batsmen weather the onslaught.
Having suspended opener Danuskha Gunathilaka for the series due to disciplinary issues, skipper Upul Tharanga had opened with Niroshan Dickwella. Tharanga managed a start, but even he looked very susceptible against spin and fell prey to Mohammad Hafeez. Pakistan would have taken a firm note of that and it will be interesting to see how the Lankan skipper goes about his business in the second ODI.
There is no doubt about Dickwella’s ability as a batsman. The wicket-keeper-batsman is robust and aggressive but with the new ball seaming, he needs to be patient till the shine is off the cherry.
Test captain Dinesh Chandimal’s poor run with the bat in the ODIs has also continued to haunt him and is a major worry for Sri Lanka.
It has become absolutely imperative for Chandimal to click and add stability to the middle order. The forgettable score of four in the last match would have done no good to his confidence. Nevertheless, he can look to draw inspiration from the defiant unbeaten knock of 155 he scored at the same venue in the first Test.
Lahiru Thirimanne, with a fighting 53 on Friday, showed that he is regaining form. Akila Dananjaya (50 not out) and Jeffrey Vandersay (25) with a late stand of 68 and a wicket apiece have also taken claim for their place in the team. All-rounder Thisara Perera was handy with the willow but he leaked runs with the ball and went for over eight an over in his eight overs.
Pacer Suranga Lakmal so far has been the best bet for Lanka. He has carried his form from the Test, was very economical and was among the wickets. Lahiru Gamage was impressive in his first spell but then lost his way to finish with figure of 8-0-49-1. The Lankan think tank might be inclined to replace him with left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando, who has bit more variation to match the aggression of the opponent especially at the death overs.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will be pleased with the way Babar Azam came good with a brilliant hundred and will be hoping for a repeat. The presence of Shoaib Malek adds depth to the middle order. He has simply matured with age and with his wife Sania Mirza cheering, looked very much in line for a ton.
His quickfire 81 off 61 deliveries provided Pakistan with the necessary impetus and the team will be looking forward to a similar show from him.
Pakistan’s weak link lies only at the top but they won’t be tampering with their winning combination for now.
Though Fakhar Zaman held things together with Azam and provided the spark to the innings, opener Ahmad Shehzad’s duck has left Pakistan to ponder on a few things. Shehzad will again get a run-in and Pakistan will be hoping he gets going this time round.
Hafeez also looked in a fine nick in the middle order with his 38-ball 32. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmad’s rare failure with the bat for one won’t be much of a worry either for Pakistan. Pacers Ali and Raees, having superseded expectations, will be keen to establish themselves as Pakistan’s leading strike-bowlers.
