🏏Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 - Match 6 : Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 🏏

At Dubai on 09/09/2022

Sri Lanka and Pakistan in dress rehearsal for final

Opportunity for Babar Azam to get back among the runs after a string of low scores; both sides likely to rest key bowlers

Both economies are on the verge of collapse - Sri Lanka's, it might be argued, is collapsing already; both nations are straining under outsized external debt; and both are negotiating with the IMF for relief. It is the first of two Pakistan vs Sri Lanka matches to finish the Asia Cup off. Welcome to the first Debt Trap Derby.

On their way here, both teams have done a lot of high-class chasing. Sri Lanka set a Sharjah ground record when they ran down 176 against Afghanistan.

Pakistan chasing 182 against India with one ball to spare was perhaps even more impressive, before Sri Lanka also defeated India with one ball to spare soon after.

Nawaz thrives on 'positive pressure' to give Pakistan all-round edge

Although Pakistan's middle and lower orders collapsed against Afghanistan, leaving No. 10 Naseem Shah with the task of hitting big blows to get them across the line, this batting order has a decent body of work behind it, and will arrive at these last two matches with some confidence.

Sri Lanka's batting has only clicked more recently and, even then, almost exclusively while chasing. However, between Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, they have got destructive batters in form. Pakistan have relied a little more heavily on Mohammad Rizwan, who is one of only two batters with more than 200 runs in the tournament so far, with 212 at an average of 70.66.

On the bowling front, Pakistan perhaps have a clear advantage. But then, both teams are likely to rest key bowlers for this dead rubber.

may the best team win the match

Isnt Sunday final also pak vs SL? Aaj hi final kar dete🤔

Pakistan

Injury/Unavailability: The in-form Shadab Khan underwent some attention from the physios while batting in the previous encounter, but the extent of his injury is as yet unknown. If rested or unavailable, it could present an opportunity to Usman Qadir.

Tactics & Matchups: Naseem Shah took all the plaudits for Pakistan's win over Afghanistan but Asif Ali's 8-ball 16 too was crucial in their successful chase. Asif could once again be pivotal to Pakistan against a side that has bowled immaculately at the death in the last two Super Four games - 37 for 5 against Afghanistan and 46 for 4 against India.

Probable XI: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain

Sri Lanka

Injury/Unavailability: None since their last outing.

Tactics & Matchups: In 2019, Sri Lanka's triumphs over Pakistan came courtesy Wanindu Hasaranga (2/20, 3/38 and 3/21). He has had an ordinary Asia Cup so far but against a right-hander dominated top-order who he matches-up well against, it could be redemption time. Among the batters, Sri Lanka's middle-order core - three left-handers - match-up favourably against both Shadab Khan (leg spinner) and Mohammad Nawaz (left-arm spinner).

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Weather Forecast:

According to reports from weather.com, the temperature of Dubai city of UAE on September 9 (Friday) will be 38° Celcius during the day and fall to 30° Celcius at night. The sky will be clear during the day and night. The chances of rain are just 1% during the day and 3% at night. Hence, the match will not be affected by rain. The humidity will be 43% during the day and rise to 57% at night.

Pitch Report:

Dubai International Cricket Stadium is an average-scoring ground in T20Is. The average 1st innings total at the stadium in T20Is is 143 and the average 2nd innings total is 124. In Asia Cup 2022 so far, no team has managed to touch the 200-run mark.

As usual, the Dubai pitch is expected to favour the team batting second, with dew perhaps forming in the second innings to hamper the bowlers. It will be the same surface as the one used by India and Afghanistan on Thursday and so, as such, will be worn.

Did You Know:

- Since January 2022, Dasun Shanaka has 396 runs in 15 T20I innings at a strike rate of 145.05 and an average of 39.60

- Since the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shadab Khan has picked 22 wickets in 15 T20Is and has an economy rate of 5.90 in this period.

In the spotlight

Four innings, 33 runs, a strike rate of 117: Babar Azam, arguably the best batter in the tournament, is having a poor stretch. There is no obvious reason for the low scores, so perhaps it is a mixture of confidence and luck. Either way, you don't expect him to stay down for long. If Sri Lanka opt for a weaker bowling attack for this match, perhaps he will have the chance to bounce back.

If you think Babar's stretch is bad, Charith Asalanka has made 0, 1, 8, and 0 so far, eating up 21 balls for those nine runs. He had been Sri Lanka's find of the T20 World Cup on these very pitches last year, but has seemingly hit a wall, having also failed to put up notable scores in a domestic T20 competition shortly before this tournament. Sri Lanka will likely give him one more game to get it right. But the likes of Ashen Bandara, who had done well in that same domestic competition, is breathing down his neck.

Stats and trivia

Sixteen of the last 18 matches in Dubai - not counting the result between India and Afghanistan on Thursday night - have been won by the chasing side. The only teams who have lost batting second are Hong Kong and Scotland.

Overall, Sri Lanka have lost 13 and won only eight T20Is against Pakistan. They won the last three in a row, but that was back in 2019.

May the best team wins!!!

Originally posted by: la_Reine

Isnt Sunday final also pak vs SL? Aaj hi final kar dete🤔

Cheers..