Sri Lanka in must win situation….

Sri Lanka who were blown off by a hurricane performance by Pakistan in the third One Day International will have to hit back with similar velocity to be in contention when they meet Pakistan in a crucial and series deciding fourth match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in a day/night match commencing at 2.30pm today.

At the moment Pakistan look firm favourites with their superior team effort with almost every player contributing towards the success of the team.

Pakistan has variety in their bowling with two left arm pacies Mohammed Irfan, Rahat Ali and right armer Anwar Ali backed up with the spin of Yasir Shah and Immad Wasim.

Yasir Shah although was a big success in the Test series, could not maintain the same form in the earlier two ODI’s at Dambulla and Pallkelle. But he came to mesmerise the Lankans in the thrid game claiming 4 wickets.

He will be the man to watch closely as the Khettarama pitch seems to be assisting him.
It was quite evident that the Lankans lacked the fire power while bowling. Angelo Mathews who opened the bowling moved the ball at half pace, Lasith Malinga looked a spent force and was hit for 21 runs in the last over when Pakistan got 93 runs in the last 10 overs with virtually put Lanka out of the contest.On the other hand Sri Lanka will have to improve leaps and bounds in all three departments of the game if they are to pose a threat to the high riding Pakistanis.

No team has chased a total of 300 runs at the RPS. The highest was 288 by India.

Skipper Angelo Mathews in a pre-match press conference said that ” We will have to get the best out of the resources available, who ever plays will have to play well. We have nothing to lose , and if we play well the results should follow favourably,” he said.