Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI Final Predictions - Babar to hit top gear to sink Sri Lanka

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Pakistan won their first three group matches before Sri Lanka rolled them for 110.
Sri Lanka qualified for the final after an eight-wicket win over Pakistan.
Pavan Rathnayake has amassed 350 runs in this tri-series including 118 vs England.

Babar Azam averages 58.33 in ODIs vs Sri Lanka (Getty Images).

Pakistan are narrow favourites on home turf but Sri Lanka should take considerable confidence from dismissing the hosts for 110 in their last meeting. The final is likely to be determined by Pakistan's top-order response to Dilshan Madushanka as well as Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ability to contain the Sri Lankan scoring threats.

Pakistan won 3 of their 4 tri-series group games, losing only once to Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam averages 58.33 vs Sri Lanka in ODIs, with 4 100s in 16 knocks.
Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha scored 107 from 90 balls in the win vs Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s Shadab Khan hit 113* in the 1-wicket win vs England.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4/46 vs England to hit 150 ODI wickets.
Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka took 5/34 in the 8-wicket win over Pakistan.
Sri Lanka’s Pavan Rathnayake hit 118 vs England, scoring 350 runs in the tri-series.
Pakistan have won 4 of their last 5 ODIs vs Sri Lanka.

Head-to-Head

Pakistan have won four of their last five ODIs against Sri Lanka. In this tri-series they beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in their first meeting but followed that up with an eight-wicket defeat in their most recent clash.

Pakistan form

Pakistan opened the tri-series with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka and then beat England by 87 runs. Their next match saw them barely survive an extraordinary collapse against England in Lahore which left them at 154/9 chasing 242 for the win. Shadab Khan's 113* and an 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf saw them squeak home for a miraculous one-wicket win.

The momentum from that win evaporated in their next match against Sri Lanka as they were rolled out for just 110 off 25.3 overs. Babar Azam top-scored with 29 in that innings and their top order will need a massive boost of confidence ahead of Saturday’s final.

Sri Lanka form

Sri Lanka lost their opener to Pakistan before clinching a win over England by two wickets and then secured their place in the final with their eight-wicket victory over Pakistan. Madushanka's left-arm pace dismantled the hosts and Kamindu Mendis finished on 62* to seal victory.

In the last group game England piled up a Lahore-record score of 386/5 to which Sri Lanka replied with a brave innings of 331, with Pavan Rathnayake blasting 118 from 77 balls and Kusal Mendis adding 89.

Sri Lanka have the form batter of the tournament in their ranks but they will need a more disciplined bowling performance than the one they produced against England.

Team news

Lahore has produced contrasting ODI surfaces in this series that has seen Pakistan dismissed for 110 in one match while England racked up 386/5 in another match. There are no new injuries to report from either camp.

Pakistan (possible XI): Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Saad Baig, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Sri Lanka (possible XI): Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c), Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sahan Arachchige, Dunith Wellalage, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga.

Verdict

Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI

Pakistan are backed to bring their A-game to clinch the title, with Babar Azam my pick as Pakistan’s best batter considering his liking for the Sri Lankan bowling attack.

Dilshan Madushanka and Shaheen Afridi are solid choices to back to be among the wickets.

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

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