Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – 2nd Test Match Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Sri Lanka vs Pakistan taking place? Sunday, July 24th, 2022 – 05:30 (UK)
Where is Sri Lanka vs Pakistan taking place? Galle International Stadium, Galle
What is the expected weather for Sri Lanka vs Pakistan? 27-28c with a chance of thundery showers across all Days 3, 4 and 5.
What channel is Sri Lanka vs Pakistan on? The match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Sri Lanka vs Pakistan? This match can be streamed live on ICC.tv
LAST MEETING
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets.
THE TEAM NEWS
SRI LANKA
- Sri Lanka batted well across the first Test and may have thought they had enough runs following a second innings score of 337, but they failed to bowl out Pakistan and fell to a disappointing defeat.
- Prabath Jayasuriya added to his 12 wickets against Australia with another nine scalps against Pakistan and although it didn’t prove enough, he will lead the spin-bowling attack for this second Test
- A finger injury rules out Maheesh Theekshana from the match and he has been replaced in the squad by Lakshitha Manasinghe, whilst Pathum Nissanka also returns to the fold following a spell of isolating due to Covid-19.
PAKISTAN
- Pakistan can chalk their first Test triumph as one for the history books as they recorded the highest fourth innings chase to be completed in Galle, reaching their victory target of 342 after 127.2 overs of play.
- Many fans were disappointed by the absence of batter Shan Masood from the side following his excellent county form at Derbyshire, however it was another opener in Abdullah Shafique who stole the headlines with a majestic 160 not out from 408 balls in the fourth innings, no doubt cementing his place in the team for the foreseeable future.
- All-rounder Fawad Alam was also left out too many people’s surprise and he is arguably the player pushing hardest for a recall into the starting XI, especially if Pakistan wish to field an added spin-bowling option.
THE PREDICTION
With this match being moved from Colombo to Galle, the expectation is that another spin-friendly surface will be on show and both sets of players will have to be at their best against the turning ball. Pakistan proved their worth in testing conditions, with the world class batting of Babar Azam complemented superbly by Shafique’s innings for the ages and such a victory will give the whole side huge confidence ahead of the second Test. Sri Lanka will come back strongly though and their spin-bowlers always give them a chance of skittling out their opponents, so this contest really could go either way. Therefore, on what should be a difficult pitch to bat on the shrewd move would be to consider backing under 309.5 runs to be scored across the 1st innings, regardless of which side that is.
