Pakistan are down and out after the 44 run loss to Sri Lanka in the 4th ODI and need to win the 5th ODI today to square the series. Currently Sri Lanka lead the series 2-1 with just 1 match left to be played. They made an unbelievable comeback in the last match, thanks to Thisira Perera's hat-trick. Sri Lanka will be giving it their all to win the series today. The Colombo wicket will also assist the Sri Lankans more than the Pakistanis because of the kind of variety that Sri Lanka have got in their bowling attack. But no one could count out Pakistan as they know that it is a do or die situation for them.
Sri Lanka certainly hold an edge over Pakistan as far as the batting department is concerned. The trio of Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene are in good touch with the bat and are winning Sri Lanka matches. Pakistan batsmen have been far too inconsistent for their own liking. Apart from Azhar Ali and Misbah ul Haq, no other batsman has been able to make a mark in this series. The likes of Hafeez, Umar Akmal and Afridi have been disappointing with the bat so far and need to fire today in order to level the series.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are evenly balanced in the bowling department, with a good mixture of seam and spin. But Pakistan are a lot more spin oriented compared to Sri Lanka and it will be interesting to see which of the two bowling attacks would come up on top. Tanvir has been very impressive since his comeback and has bowled superbly both with the new and the old ball. He along with Saeed Ajmal will be the trump card with the ball for Pakistan. Sri Lankan bowlers have been the main cause of their two victories in the series and once again Mahela Jayawardene will be banking upon Malinga and Perera to destroy the Pakistan top order.
The match is sheduled to start at 9 GMT (2.30 pm Local Time).
POWERPLAYERS
SRI LANKA-Jayawardene, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Malinga, Perera.
PAKISTAN-Misbah, Afridi, Ajmal, Tanvir, Azhar Ali.
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