CARDIFF: The Pakistani pacers have destroyed Sri Lankan batting lineup by sending eight of their batsmen back to pavilion in the virtual quarter-final here.
After winning the toss against Sri Lanka, Pakistani skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed elected to field first early today.
Pakistan opted to play an extra seamer in Fahim Ashraf instead of leg-spinner Shadab Khan in the only change to the side that beat South Africa by 19 runs in a rain-affected clash at Edgbaston last Wednesday.
This game had become a virtual quarter-final, with the winners joining already qualified title-holders India out of Group B in the last four of a tournament featuring the world’s top eight one-day international sides and the losers knocked out.
“I would’ve loved to bowl too since we’re playing four seamers too,” Mathews says. Sri Lanka have brought in Dhananjaya de Silva for Kusal Perera.
Today’s match had the look of a ‘dead rubber’ after both sides were beaten first up, with Pakistan suffering a 124-run thrashing by arch-rivals India.
Whichever side won this match was, barring an extraordinarily lopsided result, likely to face England in a semi-final in Cardiff on Wednesday.
WICKET! Mohammad Amir gets another break through after dismissing N Dickwella. Sri Lanka 162/6
WICKET! Junaid Khan gets the fifth wicket after sending DM de Silva back to pavilion. Sri Lanka 162/5
WICKET! Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir bowled AD Mathews. Sri Lanka 161/4
WICKET! The debutant Fahim Ashraf gets Chandimal for a second ball duck! Bowled him! Sri Lanka 83/3
WICKET! The debutant Fahim gets Chandimal for a second ball duck! Bowled him! Pakistan on top now? Sri Lanka 83/3 #SLvPAK #CT17 pic.twitter.com/oiw2Wpkb0n
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2017
WICKET! Speedster Hassan Ali gets the second wicket for his team. Sri Lanka 82/2
WICKET! Hassan Ali gets the second! Bowled Kusal Mendis for 27, the ball nipping back in to take middle stump! Sri Lanka 82/2! #SLvPAK #CT17 pic.twitter.com/vKvdVLFRPh
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2017
WICKET! Gunathilaka, the first Sri Lankan wicket, falls to Junaid for 13. Sri Lanka 26/1
The first wicket to fall went to @JunaidkhanREAL, and a simple catch for @realshoaibmalik #SLvPAK #CT17
🎥 WATCH: https://t.co/mg1scZU3m3 pic.twitter.com/YXU57zShHg
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2017
Playing-XI: Pakistan
Playing-XI: Sri Lanka
Here’s how Pakistan can play Bangladesh in the semi-final
Following are the calculated targets, if Pakistan chase them down in the specified overs, they will top their group and face ‘Bengal Tigers’ in the semi:
Target 350, chase it in 15 overs
Target 300, chase it in 13 overs
Target 250, chase it in 10.4 overs
Target 200, chase it in 8.1 overs.
Stat courtesy: Espn Cricinfo
Pakistan’s national anthem at Cardiff before the match kicks off
National Anthem
#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/nu7d9oaEls— Atiq Flamboyant (@etza07) June 12, 2017
Congratulations, Shoaib Malik on this milestone
Congratulations to @realshoaibmalik, who makes his 250th ODI appearance today! 👏🇵🇰#SLvPAK #CT17 pic.twitter.com/LD6iqrBGbo
— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2017
Faheem Ashraf makes a debut in the big match!
Congratulations Fahim Ashraf on ODI debut pic.twitter.com/PEf2bHyO8E
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) June 12, 2017
Will the selfie ‘curse’ favour Pakistan today? 😛
Predict the winner.
RT for Pakistan. Like for Sri Lanka.
Credits: @ZAbbasOfficial & her Magic *sharamz* #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/7CPsWqY5Ti
— Patari (@patarimusic) June 12, 2017
