Sri Lanka is poised to set up a huge total against Pakistan in the second game of the World Cup for both sides being played at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in India.
The islanders were 229/3 at the end of the 30th over courtesy Kusal Mendis’ 122 off 77 balls. However, the batter was dismissed in the 29th over.
The Green Shirts were hoping to capitalise after they broke Mendis’ 102-run partnership with Pathum Nissanka in the 18th over.
The batter was dismissed when Abdullah Shafique took a catch off Shadab Khan’s bowling in the 18th over. Nissanka was dismissed two balls after he completed his half-century.
At the end of the 10th over, the islanders were off to a steady start despite losing an early wicket in the first 10 overs.
The islanders were 58/1 at the end of the 10th over after losing Kusal Perera in the second over off Hassan Ali’s bowling.
At the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bat first against Pakistan and both sides have made one change each for the match.
Pakistan have brought in Abdullah Shafique to replace out of form Fakhar Zaman. While Sri Lanka have benched Kasun Rajitha and replaced him with Maheesh Theekshana.
Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka said they opted to bat first as they saw some turn in the later part of the game in the last couple of matches. However, he added that his bowlers will need to hit the right areas and variations.
On the other hand, Babar said that the pitch looks dry and good, saying that the first 10 overs will be very crucial.
“We’ve been here for one-and-a-half weeks — we know the wicket and the outfield,” said the Pakistani skipper adding that Pakistan has a good record against Sri Lanka in the World Cup.
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf