Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
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2nd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Dubai
Sri Lanka look to consign Pakistan to first ever Test series loss in the UAE
The first Test in Abu Dhabi was like having to endure a five course meal in which the first four courses were terrible. The fifth was so amazing that it was all worth the wait.
Just a few days later after one of the most unpredictable Test matches came to an end, Pakistan and Sri Lanka lock horns again as the Day/Night Test returns to Dubai.
Sri Lanka’s win in Abu Dhabi has given them a renewed sense of hope. Coming off a 9-0 series loss to India at home, Sri Lanka had to find the confidence to push Pakistan in familiar conditions. They did very well. The challenge would be to ensure that the 1st Test wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Pakistan’s loss was predictably unpredictable. It followed the famous Pakistan trend – losing when expected to win, and winning when given no chance whatsoever.
Pakistan would still be favourites here, how will they respond?
Key to a Pakistan win
Dealing with Rangana Herath.
As the Abu Dhabi Test showed, Pakistan have the bowlers to challenge Sri Lanka as the match wears on. However, they didn’t deal with Herath very well at all, and the first Test showed they are extra vulnerable with Misbah and Younus no longer there.
Keeping Herath quiet (easier said than done), can go a long way to keeping their UAE Test record intact.
Key to a Sri Lanka win
Runs on the board.
Rangana Herath, no matter how hard Pakistan try to keep him quiet, will be in the game. So Sri Lanka need to give him runs to bowl at. The Lions gave themselves a chance with 419 in the 1st Test, and would want more of the same from their skipper Denesh Chandimal.
It’s time for Chandimal to lead by example consistently and give a platform for the rest of his batsmen to follow.
How Sri Lanka deal with the Pakistan bowlers under lights will be interesting to see as well.
Stats
– Rangana Herath became the first bowler to take 100 wickets against Pakistan, surpassing Kapil Dev’s record of 99.
– Pakistan have never lost a Test series in the UAE.
– Excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka have won only one away Test series since 2000 – vs. England in 2014.
– Pakistan were ranked no. 1 in Test cricket a year ago. If they lose this Test, they will drop to 7th.
Prediction
This is a very interesting game, which is hard to pick. The fact that this is a D/N Test makes it even more unpredictable. Which group of fast bowlers will step up more?
The loss of Hasan Ali is a blow for Pakistan, which takes some strike out of their bowling attack.
Sri Lanka will look to build on bundling Pakistan out to win the game.
This game might depend on the toss. But, Pakistan look a little more vulnerable than SL, which is why I’ll go for Sri Lanka to cause another upset and be the first side to win a Test series in the UAE.
