England and Sri Lanka Aim to Bounce Back in ODI Tri-Series
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
England and Sri Lanka will look to revive their campaigns when they meet in the second match of the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, with both sides needing a victory to strengthen their chances of reaching the final.
The match is scheduled to begin at 1pm, as both teams seek to recover from defeats against hosts Pakistan in their opening fixtures.
Led by Harry Brook, England enter the contest under pressure after suffering an 87-run loss to Pakistan on Tuesday. Despite recently beating Sri Lanka in an ODI series on Sri Lankan soil, England struggled to maintain their momentum during the opening match of the tri-series.
England’s batting showed promise early in the chase of Pakistan’s 303-run total, but a series of wickets halted their progress. After reaching 165-3, the visitors lost their remaining wickets for a total of 215, falling well short of the target.
Pakistan’s pace bowlers exploited the conditions effectively, while left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas delivered a match-winning performance with figures of 6-40. His spell proved decisive in breaking England’s resistance and securing a comfortable victory for the hosts.
England’s fielding also came under scrutiny after several opportunities went begging. Missed catches allowed Pakistan to strengthen their position, making the visitors’ task more difficult as the innings progressed.
Brook admitted that England failed to build partnerships after an encouraging start from Tom Banton and Ben Duckett. He said the team needed to improve its strike rotation, particularly against spin, and avoid losing wickets in quick succession.
England will also need to sharpen their bowling after allowing Pakistan to recover from 81-4 and post a total above 300. A more consistent performance with the ball and greater discipline in the field will be important against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be eager to respond after a disappointing finish to their opening match against Pakistan. Chasing 306, they appeared firmly in contention at 253-5 before losing their final five wickets for just 15 runs.
The collapse handed Pakistan control of the contest and highlighted Sri Lanka’s need to maintain composure during the closing stages of an innings.
Pavan Rathnayake scored 79 to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt, while Janith Liyanage contributed 60. However, Faheem Ashraf dismissed Rathnayake to break a threatening partnership, and Haris Rauf removed Liyanage as Pakistan shifted the momentum in their favour.
Sri Lanka will hope to draw confidence from their recent T20I campaign against Pakistan, which ended with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the final match. They will need a similarly determined effort in the ODI format to return to winning ways.
Thursday’s encounter therefore carries considerable importance for both teams. England will aim to address the batting and bowling weaknesses exposed in their opening defeat, while Sri Lanka must find a way to avoid another late-innings collapse.
Pakistan have moved to Lahore, where the remaining four matches of the tri-series will take place at Gaddafi Stadium. The tournament final is scheduled for October 31, with the top two teams advancing to the title match.
With qualification still at stake, England and Sri Lanka will be keen to secure their first points and keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.
