ICC World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka eye first win

Sri Lanka players celebrate Quinton de Kock’s wicket in Delhi on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images

Pakistan will look to avenge their Asia Cup defeat to Sri Lanka as the two teams face off at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on Tuesday. The two teams had contrasting results in their opening matches. While Pakistan recorded an 81-run victory over the Netherlands, Sri Lanka succumbed to a 102-run loss to South Africa.

Playing their first-ever World Cup match in India, the Babar Azam-led were made to work for their victory against the Netherlands, who are one of the two qualifiers.

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Not a bright start

Pakistan lost three wickets by the 10th over after being put in as skipper Babar and openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq departed early. It was left to Mohammed Rizwan and the impressive Saud Shakeel (68) to bail the team out with a 120-run stand for the fourth wicket. Later on, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took Pakistan past 250.

Shaheen Afridi did not fire in the first match, but Haris Rauf bowled at good pace and bagged three wickets. Technical director Mickey Arthur must be happy with the work of leg-spinner Shadab and left arm-spinner Nawaz.

Head coach Grant Bradburn said the players would like to produce impact performances. "It is not about individually anymore. It's about as a team. It's about us extracting another two points tomorrow,'' Bradburn said.

Pakistan have the luxury of being at this venue by playing three matches, including two warm-up matches. "We are looking forward to playing Sri Lanka. They are a team we have become familiar within recent times. Obviously, with the Asia Cup, they have had the upper hand. But we have a secret weapon in Mickey Arther [technical director] who coached them before. Mickey was a very, very handy addition to able to add in intricate points around their batters and bowlers.''

Sri Lanka's script went horribly wrong against the marauding South Africans, who piled up a 400-plus total to seal the match in the first session itself. The bowlers erred in line and length badly. They leaked plenty of runs. As a result, there were three centuries, including the fastest ton of the World Cup by Aiden Markram off 49 balls. They need to get their confidence back to make a fresh start to their campaign.

‘Need to play smart cricket'

However, the batting trio of Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka showed the attacking skills at the Kotla. Surely, Sri Lanka will do their homework well and make amends against an unpredictable Pakistan.

Sri Lanka assistant coach Naveed Nawaz said it is necessary to play smart cricket after the first match disaster. "The execution was bad, particularly in the death overs. We need variations like bouncers, slower ones. The boundaries are comparatively bigger than the Kotla. Hyderabad has produced good wickets,'' he said. Since there have been frequent clashes against Pakistan of late, each team know their strengths and weaknesses. "It will be an absorbing contest,'' signed off Nawaz.