Sunday, June 14, 2009

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test 2009: Preview, Live Score

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are going to face each other in the second and the final test match of the series. The match kicks off from 1 March 2009 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. After the drawn first test in Karachi, the Lahore test has now become the series deciding match with both sides looking to clinch the series winning the match. Well, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene would like to end hi tenure as captain on a winning note, while Pakistan captain Younis Khan must look for a winning start to his reign as Pakistan captain. That means, the match is important for both captains, though in different ways.

Match: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Second Test 2009

Date: 1 March 2009

Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan

Time: 10.00 am (05:00GMT)

Younis Khan’s triple century gave the home side a perfect confident booster at Karachi and their bowlers got some rhythm back in the final day of the first test as they picked up five wickets of Sri Lanka’s second innings within 144 runs. However, Sri Lankan batsmen dominated the home bowlers in their first innings with Jayawardene and Samaraweera scoring double centuries.

Well, Lahore wicket seems to be more competition as it might provide more help fro the bowlers than what Karachi wicket did in the first test. So, a competitive match seems to be very likely at Lahore. First test displayed total dominance of batsmen, except some success for the bowlers on the fifth day. If Lahore test offer some turn for the spinners, it could be decisive for Sri Lankan spin duo Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, both of whom had an ordinary match in Karachi. However, the same thing would be applicable for Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria who showed some of his spin talent, picking up 2 early wickets for 35 in 9 overs on the fifth day of the first test match.

Pakistan did not play any test over the most than one year, due to postponement of a number of test tours by other test playing teams concerning security issues. Now that, Pakistan cricket fans are seeing test match taking place in the country once again, Pakistani players would like to present the cricket fans with some celebrating occasions. Sri Lankan, on the other hand, can clinch their first test series win in 9 years in Pakistan. Sri Lanka last clinched a test series was way back in 2000 under the captaincy of Sanath Jayasuria. Jayawardene would be happy to repeat the Jayasuria’s success in his last series as Sri Lankan captain.

Neither side is expected to bring out any big change in their squad for the second test. Pakistan is expected to exclude first test’s debutant Sohail Khan who remained wicketless at Karachi conceding 164 runs in 27 overs. Mohammad Talha, a pacer who impressed former Pakistan great Wasim Akram, is the likely replacement of Sohail Khan. Talha, 20-year-old, has excellent pace and has been in excellent form in Pakistan domestic cricket as he picked up 34 wickets in six games in Quaid-e-Azam tournament. Another debutant of the first test is Pakistani opener Khurram Manzoor who scored 27 runs in Pakistan’s only innings in the match and he is expected to retain his place for the second test too.

Sri Lankan team is expected to retain their first test squad. Though their debutant opener Tharanga Paranativana failed to shine at Karachi, scoring only 0 and 9 in two innings, Sri Lanka is less likely to replace him. Sri Lanka might have considered all rounder Farveez Maharoof for the second test if he did not go back to home with a groin injury.

Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakara scored 244 runs in his only previous test innings at Lahore, while Kamran Akmal, who scored an excellent century in the first test, has 462 runs at an average of 92.40 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. So, both sides will expect something special from Sangakara and Akmal in the second test.

Online Live Score and Updates

You can get the live score and updates of the match from the following live score websites:

Cricinfo

Sify sports

action8cricket

cricketnext

Headlinesindia.com

CRICBUZZ

123INDIA.COM

Cricket365

Thatscricket

Well, I think, spinners will be very crucial in the second match with both sides have quality spinners. The wicket will have turn from the third day and the team batting on the final day will faces strong challenge from the spinners. I think, Sri Lankan spinners will have an edge over their counterparts as they have two world class spinners in their squad. I think, the second test will feature an exciting contest between Sri Lankan spinners and Pakistani batsmen who are always good against spin bowling. Anyway, I would not pick up any side as favorite as I think, both sides have equal chance in the match. Well, whoever wins, no cricket fans would like to see a one-sided match at Lahore and cricket fans of both teams are now expecting a competitive match.

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