Dubai: Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to field first against Pakistan in the last match of super four round of Asia Cup 2022.
It is the first of two Pakistan vs Sri Lanka matches to finish the Asia Cup off..
🏏 Sri Lanka win the toss and opt to field first 🏏
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 9, 2022
Two changes to our playing XI 👇#AsiaCup2022 | #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/4GQSCMp7kP
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.
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.
Here's your 🇱🇰 playing XI! 👊#RoaringForGlory #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/NM5DHNr0jv
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 9, 2022
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.
