PAK v SL Asia Cup 2022: Who can get mental edge in this mock final encounter?
Both the teams are standing equally at this stage, but today's game is important to gain a mental edge before going into the finals.
New Delhi: Two nations who are fighting crisis have made it to the finals of the Asia Cup 2022. But before playing the actual finals, there is a mock final as Pakistan and Sri Lanka face each other in the last game of the Super 4 stage. Both the teams are standing equally at this stage, but today’s game is important to gain a mental edge before going into the finals.
Both the teams look in form and have delivered some really good performances while chasing. With batting first is still a question here, the toss will also be important in the game. Pakistan has Mohammad Rizwan to anchor while Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Asif Ali are delivering in the middle, On the other hand, Sri Lanka has in-form Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka along with match-winners like Pathum Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. It will be a battle between two batting powerhouses.
Pakistan’s bowling might stand out
Mohammad Rizwan has been the key to Pakistan’s batting order as Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are failing time and again in this tournament. With support from the lower order, the team has managed to chase the totals. In the last game, the problem was exposed and it was Fazalhaq Farooqi’s two full-toss deliveries to Naseem Shah that helped Pakistan win.
Meanwhile, Naseem Shah is leading the pack with all his might. Harris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain are also looking good. While it is the spin department that has impressed with both ball and the bat. Both Nawaz and Shadab are in great form and have taken eight and seven wickets respectively in four games. While Nawaz has an economy of 6.29, Shadab is bowling with an economy of 5.79 in the tournament.
Sri Lanka has solid batting to face fierce bowling
Sri Lankan batters seem to come back in form just in time. If Nissanka and Mendis can get their side to a good start, as they did against India, Shanaka, Rajapaksa and Chamika Karunarathne can finish well. Though the batting lineup still has some issues in Charith Asalanka and Gunathilaka, the rest all seem tight.
In the bowling attack, which was dependent on Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka stood up with pace against India to pick three wickets. Karunarathne and Shanaka also picked two each to deliver well-balanced performances. This bowling attack, if it gets a bit of swing and turn, can trouble the Pakistani batters. They just need to avoid useless full toss and extras.
Conclusion
In this pre-finals encounter, it will be a battle of Sri Lanka’s batting and Pakistan’s bowling. The toss will be important, but the captains should put it out of the equation and keep it out of their minds to prepare for the finals and the T20 World Cup. On paper, Pakistan looks really strong but it is just one over or at times one ball to change the game in T20s. Moreover, we might see a few changes and experimentation with the playing XI.