Sri Lanka hoping for a Silva lining in huge Pakistan clash
SRI LANKA may have to bring replacement batsman Dhananjaya de Silva straight into their team for today’s must-win Champions Trophy Group B match against Pakistan in Cardiff (10.30am start).
Angelo Mathews’ team are scrambling around for frontline batsmen after injuries to Chamara Kapugedera and Kusal Perera, while vice-captain Upul Tharanga is completing his two-match suspension.
Tharanga was sanctioned for overseeing a slow over rate in Sri Lanka’s opening defeat against South Africa when Mathews himself was out, still recovering from a calf injury.
Kapugedera was then ruled out with a knee problem, and replaced for Sri Lanka’s shock victory over India by Danushka Gunathilaka, only for Perera to be forced off midinnings at The Oval on Thursday with a hamstring injury.
Mathews’ men are therefore left hoping De Silva can prove a second able deputy, after Gunathilaka made 76 at the top of the order in the seven-wicket romp against India.
Perera also made a telling contribution before having to retire hurt, and Mathews said: “It’s a shame to lose Kusal, he batted extremely well but Dhananjaya de Silva is also a very good player.
“We had to bring him into the squad because we are left with only seven batters at the moment.
“He has a good chance of playing, but we still haven’t decided.”
The prize for today’s winners will be a semi-final spot, almost certainly against England on Wednesday at the same venue rather than facing Bangladesh at Edgbaston 24 hours later.
Either way, Mathews will be wary of mercurial Pakistan.
“We all know they’re a very dangerous team. There’s no room for complacency in this kind of tournament,” he said.
Like Sri Lanka, Pakistan recovered from a discouraging defeat in their first match to then triumph over an out-of-sorts South Africa in Birmingham five days ago.
That was a result which added to their long-held reputation as an unpredictable team - a label batsman Mohammad Hafeez enjoys, because it keeps opponents on their toes.
“I’m always a fan of that tag. We are always like that, and I love it,” he said.
“We have the talent, but you never know when it (will happen).
“That always gives the opposition something to think about it. They never take us lightly.”
Pakistan do have some recent knowledge of the Swalec Stadium ground beaten England there by four wickets in a one-day international last year.
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim starred with both bat and ball in that Cardiff clash and he will hope for more success upon on his return ‘home’ being born down the M4 in Swansea.
India eased into the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy as they beat South Africa by eight wickets at the Oval.
Having lost the toss and being put in to bat, South Africa started slowly before a spell of eight wickets for 51 runs put them on the back foot as a trio of run-outs cost them dear.
The capitulation meant South Africa were all out for 191 and India, who had bowled professionally and disciplined, were guided home by impressive knocks from Shikhar Dhawan (78) and captain Virat Kohli (76 not out) as they advanced into the last four.