In-form Pakistan eye series win over Sri Lanka in second ODI

After overcoming Sri Lanka in a thrilling first ODI by six runs courtesy of Haris Rauf’s four-wicket burst in a splendid fast bowling display, Pakistan will look to seal the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Unlike the slow surface on offer at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad during the South Africa series, the pitch in the first match at the Rawalpindi Stadium not only provided batters with value for shots but also assisted the fast bowlers with pace and bounce.

It was Salman Agha’s unbeaten 105 that guided Pakistan to an imposing 299-5 before Rauf grabbed 4-61, while Naseem Shah, who took two wickets, picked up a prized scalp of Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, whose lone battle 52-ball 59 kept the home team under pressure till the very end.

Given how the Island nation fought in the first game, the home side has to plug gaps and loopholes in the second contest, where they will look to seal the series.

Dot ball issue

After being put into bat, the Men in Green batters struggled big time against the probing line and length of Sri Lankan pacers, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando.

Much like in the Asia Cup and South Africa series, Pakistan's batting continues to be hampered by a high number of dot balls.

In the first 10 overs against Sri Lanka, Pakistan managed only 28 runs while facing 46 dot balls. The usually aggressive pair of Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman struggled to rotate the strike and build momentum, resulting in a sluggish start to the innings.

Up until the 16th over, the home team just managed to score 50 runs. Had it not been for Salman’s quick-fire century and Mohammad Nawaz’s crucial 36 off 23 balls at the back end, the home side would have fallen way short of an imposing first innings total as they helped Pakistan score 180 runs in the last 20 overs.

The responsibility lies on the shoulders of senior batters like Babar Azam, who scored 29 off 52 balls, and Mohammad Rizwan, who managed five runs, to not only play a big inning but also ensure the scoreboard keeps ticking, with regular rotation of strikes.

Time for Babar to step up

Pakistan’s star batter on Tuesday joined India ace Virat Kohli in an unwanted century drought — going 83 innings without an international ton.

The 31-year-old’s last century came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup, and given the way he showed his class in the series-deciding third T20I against South Africa with a 69-run innings in Lahore, it was expected that Babar would finally break the century drought in the ODIs.

In the ODIs against South Africa, he didn’t even manage to score a fifty. And in the first game against Sri Lanka, he scored just 29, getting clean bowled to a brilliant googly from Hassaranga as he left a big gap in an attempt to drive a full outside off delivery.

Meanwhile, the second game yet again provides an opportunity for Babar to finally break his long-awaited century jinx in the crucial game and also equal Saeed Anwar with the most ODI centuries (20) for Pakistan.

Squads:

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan Malinga.