Match Preview Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I 2019

Big picture

That's right. Even the first string Sri Lanka has lost its most recent T20I series, and Pakistan has ranked first, but no two sides are confused as much as two. A comfortable series win over the underdog is not a big surprise.

So far, the two games have followed a similar script. Sri Lanka has had a strong partnership with a half-century for three centuries. Sri Lanka was hit hard, and despite the friendly partnership with Pakistan, Sri Lanka maintained the necessary rates via a middle O bus. In the first game, Pakistan's last seven ticket gates fell to 33. In the second game, the last five have been reduced to 20.

The two hottest players so far were Umar Ark Mal and Ahmed Shezad, who made four huge innings between them. Akmal's straight golden duck was basically invited to the punch line. Shehzad offered 25 Powerplays for 17 runs in both games. Babar Azam's rare failure did not help, and the rest of the middle class also did not fit.

The white wash will be a coup d'état in Sri Lanka, and a significant early obstacle for the new commander of Pakistan Cricket Miss Paul Hark. Of the issues that the host needs to sort, the top problem seems to be the most urgent.

Form guide

Pakistan LLLWL (Completed match, Most recent match)
Sri Lanka WWWLL

In the spotlight

Some of Pakistan's good T20I forms in 2018 depended on bowling alleys Mohamed Amir Last year, it was as good as anyone who recorded 14 turnstiles at 15.50, which is 6.57. He hasn't lost a ticket gate in eight previous T20Is prior to this series, but now he hasn't taken it through the first two matches in Lahore. When fighting against three confident opposition parties, Pakistan must fire Quick in the final match.

In all four of Sri Lanka's inning tours Dasun Shanaka I am looking for late when Sri Lanka wants to finish quickly and I am rebuilding when I lost the ticket gate. He was disappointed that he missed the World Cup spot, but now he would have had enough to settle into two limiting forms in the first choice XI.

Team news

Iftikhar Ahmed can come for Akmal not running. Perhaps Pakistan will consider Haris Sohail instead of Shehzad.

Pakistan Available: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Ahmed Shehzad, 4 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Asif Ali, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Mohamed Haas Nine

In general, once a team completes the series, you may be tempted to try out an inexperienced player, but for this Sri Lankan team, whitewash is a big deal and it doesn't seem to change sides.

Sri Lanka (Possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4 Shehan Jayasuriya, 5 Minhan Bhanuka Co., 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Nuwan Phra Dip

Pitch and condition

Lahore had some dew, but it didn't really affect the game. The batter is expected to be hit again.

Statistics and common sense

• Amir's 0 against 40 on Monday is the worst figure since the 2016 T20 World Cup.

• Seven Sri Lankan XI members played less than ten T20s at the start of the series.

• Sri Lanka never got a T20I series 3-0.