Second ODI against Pakistan today: Flashes of brilliance no formula for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will be under pressure to draw level in the second ODI against Pakistan at Rawalpindi today after losing the first match by six runs on Tuesday.
The inconsistency of the Sri Lankan batting and bowling was visible on yet another occasion as Pakistan were initially let-off when they batted and progressed to make a total of 299 for 5 in 50 overs or a 300 target that they successfully defended even though they ran short of bowling options in the last over in defending 19 more runs under their new captain Shaheen Afridi.
That Pakistan recovered from 95 for 4 can be put down to some lackluster bowling on the part of the Sri Lankans who started off well but caved in unable to separate the batting pair of Salman Ali Agha (105 not out) and Hussain Talat (62) who put on 138 for the fifth wicket.
Two of the Sri Lankan bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana conceded as many as 127 runs between them that did not support the team’s cause to push for an all-important win in the first match.
Part-time bowler Janith Liyanage conceded 48 runs in his eight overs while skipper Charith Asalanka gave away 18 runs in two overs.
The best bowler on the day Wanindu Hasaranga started off well by taking three of the four Pakistan wickets at the start, but undid his effort by conceding 54 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
Sri Lanka’s top order batting was also found wanting after an explosive start when Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara put on 85 runs for the first wicket inside 12 overs while chasing down the target.
But the foundation the openers laid was squandered by the rest of the top and middle order batting beginning with Kusal Mendis bowled for a first-ball duck.
Asalanka showed he is struggling for runs before losing his wicket for 32 made off 49 balls with just two fours while Sadeera Samarawickrema (39) and Janith Liyanage (28) had starts that could not be converted.
Kamindu Mendis from whom much is expected made just nine runs in 13 runs when he was expected to go after the bowlers.
It all came down to the last boundary hitter Hasaranga to do the job but the writing was on the wall that Sri Lanka was doomed to lose.
Hasaranga played his part with 59 in 52 balls and his dismissal in the 49th over said it all that Sri Lanka will need to be consistent with both bat and ball to win the series coming from behind.