Today i.e. on 04 Oct 2012 Sri Lanka and Pakistan will play the first semi final match of Twenty-20 (T-20) World Championship at R. Premdasa Stadium, Colombo. The stadium is named after the former Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa. This is one of the biggest cricket stadiums in Sri Lanka till date.
Sri Lanka is the first team from Group 1 of the Super Eight stage who have made it to the semi finals. Sri Lanka have played 3 matches and won all of them and ranked one in the Group whereas Pakistan is from Group 2 played 3 matches won 2 and lost 1 against India, ranking second in the Group. Sri Lanka has a chance to take revenge of their 2009 T-20 World Cup Championship defeat from Pakistan. It will be the “Battle of Quality Spinners” from both the sides. The most interesting scuffle will be between two mystery spinners -- Ajantha Mendis and Saeed Ajmal. Both of them have been the highest wicket takers for their teams in the competition. Mendis and Ajmal have taken nine and eight wickets, respectively.
Pakistan is the only team to reach semifinals at all 4 World T20s held so far. Their confidence will be high after a big win over Australia. The advantage that Pakistan will have over Sri Lanka is that they have played three matches and won two at R. Premdasa Stadium. For this reason, Hafeez’s team has an idea about the surface. On the other hand, Sri Lankan team has played all their matches at Hambantota and Pallekele stadium. The only weak link for Pakistan team is Shahid Afridi’s form and for Sri Lanka the all-rounder Thisara Perera and vice-captain Angelo Mathews. In all, there is little to choose between the two teams as they struggle for a place in Sunday`s final.
No comments:
Post a Comment