PAK v SL, 5th ODI Preview: Pakistan aim to finish on a high in the dead rubber contest

Test series was utterly disappointing for Pakistan, but in the ODI format where they’ve been brilliant all year, tables have turned comprehensively. In every department, Pakistan has outplayed Sri Lanka and the visitors have been humiliated almost every time they came out on the field.

Batting seems to be the biggest quandary for the Lankan Lions. Niroshan Dickwella, Chandimal and Thirimanne have been getting starts but failed to extract a big knock thus far. Only Upul Tharanga has played some decent cricket and it’s hard for him to pull off one-man shows all the time. Bowling too has been horrendous at times, but they’re putting the effort in.

One or the other batsman is stepping up for the hosts and this is helping them to build decent partnerships. Skipper Sarfraz will be extremely happy with the way things have fared out and he’s on the brink of a historic whitewash in Sharjah. Bowlers have been bang on target, especially Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan. Both these bowlers dug the Islanders’ grave this series and they’ll pose another fierce challenge on Monday.

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first

Changes:

Sri Lanka: Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay come in, in place of Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal.

Pakistan: Faheem Ashraf comes in for Junaid Khan.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Faheem Ashraf, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Usman Khan, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali

Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga (c), Thisara Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Milinda Siriwardana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay

Focus will be on

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

It’ll come in as a huge surprise if Babar Azam doesn’t bag the man of the series prize. The youngster has amassed runs for fun, registering two mind-boggling centuries, to go with an unbeaten half-century in the 4th ODI. Azam is well and truly establishing himself as the backbone of their batting lineup and his rise in the ICC rankings is a testimonial to this fact.

Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka)

The southpaw is one of the most exciting talents in world cricket, but in this series, he has managed nothing but good starts. He approaches quite aggressively and looks to maintain a strike rate well above 90. Dickwella played some match-winning knocks in the Test series, but things are completely different with the white ball. He’s striking the ball well though and if he gets in, a big knock from his bat is always on cards.

Playing combinations

Pakistan

There won’t be any changes in the top three, with Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman embarking the innings and Babar Azam coming in at number 3. Mohammad Hafeez will be up next and Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed and Imad Wasim are the other batsmen in this experienced middle order.

Once again, Pakistan will go with three fast bowlers. Usman Khan, Junaid Khan and world number 1 bowler Hasan Ali will be sharing the new ball and death overs responsibilities. Shadab Khan has been exceptional as well and accompanying him in the spin department is Imad Wasim.

Sri Lanka

Niroshan Dickwella will open the innings with Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal will be batting at number 3. The middle order has some talented names like Lahiru Thirimanne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Milinda Siriwardana and Thisara Perera, but not one of them have managed to contribute anything significant this series.

Lahiru Gamage has been the pick of the Lankan fast bowlers thus far. His fast bowling companions for the day will be Suranga Lakmal and Thisara Perera. Akila Dananjaya and Seekuge Prasanna will be the chief spinners, with an extra option available in Siriwardana.

StatAttack

41 – Mohammad Hafeez needs 41 more runs to complete 6,000 ODI runs.

11 – Sri Lanka has lost their previous 11 ODIs.

3 – Junaid Khan needs 3 wickets to complete 100 ODI scalps.