COLOMBO: Pakistan look to grab a rare series victory against Sri Lanka when they clash in the fourth One-Day International here at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.

Azhar Ali-led Pakistan, who last clinched a series in Sri Lanka back in 2006, are 2-1 up in the five-match rubber and will be eager to add to their Test success. The tourists captained by Misbah-ul-Haq, earlier on the tour, had won the three-Test series 2-1.

Azhar has blunted Sri Lanka’s efforts by putting his resources to good use.

Most of all, the skipper has been able to get the most out of veteran Mohammad Hafeez. Apart from a low score in the second ODI which Pakistan lost by two wickets, Hafeez has been in prime form, with 166 runs thus far and six wickets, four of which came in the first game.

However, Pakistan will have to make do without his services with the ball after the International Cricket Council banned the off-spinner from bowling for 12 months.

Hafeez came up with a well-paced 54 in the third game at the same venue, and once Pakistan amassed 316-4, Yasir Shah stepped to the plate with a four-wicket haul with his leg-spin. He was ably supported by Imad Wasim, the debutant left-arm spinner who finished with two wickets.

On the pace front, Mohammad Irfan, Anwar Ali and Rahat Ali have been firing in unison, but it’s the batting unit that has truly clicked for the visitors.

Right at the top, Azhar and Ahmed Shehzad have provided Pakistan with two half-century opening stands in back-to-back innings. The middle order, comprising Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik, has been able to capitalise on the base. Mohammad Rizwan has been a revelation with the bat, lending ammo to Pakistan’s arsenal.

Sri Lankan cricketers play football during a training session at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday. — AFP

The story isn’t as rosy for Angelo Mathews-led Sri Lanka. All of their top and middle-order batsmen have got starts but haven’t been able to carry on consistently. Clearly, their batting is feeling the absence of the retired seasoned pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

As if the batting concerns aren’t troubling enough, Sri Lanka’s bowling has also left a lot to be desired.

Lalith Malinga doesn’t seem to possess the same speed or accuracy since returning from surgery, denting Sri Lanka’s attack severely. The hosts have tried to build a consistent bowling unit around the ageing seamer but they haven’t been successful. Suranga Lakmal and Seekugge Prasanna were left out for Nuwan Pradeep and Sachith Pathirana after the first ODI but the duo hasn’t been able to deliver.

While Pradeep has been sporadic, Pathirana showed glimpses of settling into international cricket with an improved performance in the third ODI.

Sri Lanka’s attack has not been able to staunch the flow of runs either, and it hasn’t helped their cause that the fielding hasn’t lived up to its usual high standards.

Pakistan have been the better side in the series thus far. However, Sri Lanka have shown in the past that they can fight back. What remains to be seen is which of the two will bring their A game on Wednesday.

Mohammad Irfan engaged in stretching exercise. — AFP

Teams (from):

SRI LANKA: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal (wicket-keeper), Thisara Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Ashan Priyanjan, Sachithra Senanayake, Sachith Pathirana.

PAKISTAN: Azhar Ali (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Shafiq, Mukhtar Ahmed, Bilal Asif, Imad Wasim, Ehsan Adil.

Published in Dawn, July 22th, 2015

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