Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2012

Resurgent Pakistan will look to draw level

July 8-12, 2012 10:00 local, 04:30 GMT, 10:00 IST – at Pallekele.


Pitch Conditions:

The pitch conditions of the previous game drew lot of flak from all the corners of the cricketing community. One can only hope that the groundsmen here will prepare a better pitch to make sure the match is interesting. Another of Sri Lanka's batting paradises, Pallekele will be another high scoring game if the curators don't do something about it. 


Team Form:

The decision at the toss almost cost Sri Lanka the match. But the pitch made sure it was a drab test match. Sri Lanka were almost unable to extract anything out of the lifeless pitch and the Pakistan batsmen had a wonderful time scoring runs out there. Hafeez and Azhar Ali made merry and they were joined by Taufeeq Umar and Misbah. Then it was Pakistan's turn to suffer as the Sri Lankan batting took full advantage of the pitch with Dilshan and Sangakkara notching up big hundreds. Pakistan have the momentum going into the final match, They surely cant win from here, but they have to play for pride. 


Pakistan: Having lost the first test rather easily, Pakistan came back strongly in the second test and went well past 300 for the first time since 2007. Their batting received the much needed boost and they will gain confidence from the performance. The bowling department did not have much to boast of apart from Junaid Khan. Having succeeded to extract something from a lifeless pitch at the SSC, Junaid Khan took a fifer and this will give him confidence to bowl well at Pallekele. 

Sri Lanka: Having perhaps underestimated the Pakistani side, Mahela Jayawardane shocked everybody when he chose to bowl first on a lifeless SSC pitch. Pakistan took that chance with both hands and notched up a mammoth score which only made sure that the game will end in a draw. The Sri Lankan bowlers had absolutely no clue as to what to bowl on the pitch and they only waited for the batsmen to get out themselves. With a chance to win this test series 2-0, One will hope Sri Lanka will try to win the 3rd test instead of going for a draw; to make it an interesting game.


Key Players:

Sri Lanka:

Kumar Sangakkara: With two back to back scores in the 190s, Sangakkara is in absolutely wonderful form right now. He has just climbed up the summit of the Test Rankings and will look to get another century to make help his team win the 2nd test. 

Rangana Herath: The left arm orthodox bowler has been struggling to extract life out of dead pitches in this series. He is a crafty bowler and if he manages to get going, Pakistan will have lots of trouble facing him on a turning track. 


Pakistan:

Mohammed Hafeez: Enjoying a rich vein of form, Hafeez is really turning it on for Pakistan. With a huge 100 in the 2nd test, he has done his confidence a great good and will look to contribute more consistently with both the  bat and the ball. If there is a turning track ready for the game, Hafeez will surely come into the scheme of things at Pallekele. 

Junaid Khan: The Pakistani Pacer managed to get a 5 wicket haul on a dead and lifeless SSC track. he bowled his heart out, pitching the deliveries in the right area and will be rearing to take more in the final test match. If he hits the right areas, he sure will cause some problems for the Sri Lankan batting.


Squads:

Pakistan (From): Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Abdur Rehman, Aizaz Cheema, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Adnan Akmal(w), Afaq Raheem, Faisal Iqbal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Ayub, Taufeeq Umar

Sri Lanka (From): Mahela Jayawardene(c), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Jeevan Mendis, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep, Dilhara Fernando, Prasanna Jayawardene(w), Suraj Randiv, Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera