CT 2017, Match 12, PAK vs SL – Sri Lanka Predicted XI

The last group game of the tournament will decide the fourth semi-finalist of the ICC Champions Trophy. Sri Lanka and Pakistan, by virtue of their wins against India and South Africa, have shaken up the group. South Africa and India were the favourites to go through from this group but now one out of Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be in the last four.

Sri Lanka did not do too well coming into the tournament as they lost a practice game to a lowly Scotland. They were then ridiculed by South Africa and the odds were heavily against them to give the defending champions a run for their money. But they turned around their campaign by producing a great come from behind victory. They chased 322 and became the first team to chase a target of over 300 in the history of Champions Trophy.

Pakistan too, like Sri Lanka, are coming off a stellar win against South Africa, who are the top-ranked team in ODI cricket. The morale of this side will also be very high as they face Sri Lanka. Pakistan can draw inspiration from their overall ODI record against the Islanders which is very superior. But it will be their performance that will matter the most on the day.

Let us have a look at the Predicted XI of Sri Lanka for this virtual quarter-final game:

Openers (Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka)

After a disappointing outing in the game against India, Dickwella would want to get back to scoring runs. He is a positive player and can get off his side to a great start. A strike rate of 97.71 after 13 ODIs is a testimony of his attacking instincts. He is also a safe wicket-keeper behind the stumps.

After playing the innings of his life against India, Gunathilaka would have a lot of confidence coming into this game. It was this 26-year old who started building the chase by playing some crisps shot early into the innings. Gunathilaka made a fine debut in the Champions Trophy and would love to kick on and lead his team into the semi-finals. His part-time off-spin was well used by his skipper against Yuvraj Singh, who failed to pick him.

Middle Order (Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews)

Man of the Match in the last game, Mendis is an upcoming superstar from Sri Lanka. Short in stature, Mendis displayed glimpses of geniuses in his 89-run knock which was curtailed due to an unfortunate run out. He is only 22 and to produce such an innings against India on the big stage promises a lot.

Chandimal has been a mainstay of the Sri Lankan side for half a decade now. He was pushed down the order to counter the left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja and did not get a chance to bat. The 27-year old will bat at No. 4 in this crucial game and Sri Lanka needs runs from him as there will be no Kusal Perera in the side.

Mathews played a captain’s knock and finished the game for his side remaining unbeaten on a classy 52. The Sri Lanka skipper brings so much stability and experience into the middle order. The chase was set up by two young guns but it required an experienced head to take the team across the line which is what exactly Mathews did. He can graft the ones and the twos and also can hit the big shots towards the end of an innings.

All-rounders (Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera and Seekkuge Prasanna)

Gunaratne enjoyed a great game against India. He bowled 3 cheap overs where he went for just 7 runs and also picked the wicket of Yuvraj. Gunaratne is a different sort of a bowler bowling off-cutters from a long run up. His enterprising knock of 34* served as a knockout punch to India. The right-handed batsman played 21 balls and hit 2 fours and as many sixes to finish the job way in advance.

Thisara bowled well in the middle overs but was smartly taken for runs by Kedar Jadhav during the final over of the innings. Perera displayed good control of the wide yorker which Dhoni found difficult to get away and was later holed out in the deep. Perera can be a deadly option down the innings with a bat in hand and is expected to retain his place in the XI.

After missing the last game, Prasanna is expected to come back into the XI for leg-spinners have done well in this tournament. Being an all-rounder, Prasanna can handle the bat well late down the order. Mathews should use him prudently and more of a wicket-taking option.

Bowlers (Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Pradeep)

All three fast bowlers had a forgettable outing in the last game. The power-packed batting of India took them to the cleaners as every one of them went for over 7 runs an over. They are, though, expected to retain their place in the side.

Malinga picked two essential wickets but went for 70 runs in his spell. Those deadly yorkers were missing from his bowling but his off-cutters were tough to pick. Malinga has to take the additional responsibility and produce a performance he is known for. Lakmal and Pradeep also went for over 7 runs an over. Pradeep bowled well against South Africa and would want to repeat this performance in this big game. Lakmal has an excellent ODI record and has the ability to bounce back from an ordinary performance.