Asia Cup 2022 Final: Areas to target for Pakistan

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be facing in the finals of Asia Cup 2022 (PC: Twitter)

The Asia Cup 2022 has reached its culmination with only the summit clash left to be played. The final of the tournament will be played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. 

The way the two teams have played till now it is expected that the final will be an interesting clash between the two teams. The Sri Lankan team has four consecutive victories under their belt and are looking like the team to beat. 

Can the Pakistan team stop the Sri Lankan winning wagon and lift the Asia Cup trophy for the third time? What are the areas Pakistan can work on in this match? 

Getting Early wickets

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have been good for Sri Lanka in Asia Cup (PC: Twitter)

For Sri Lanka the biggest strength in the batting had been either of their openers firing in most of the matches. The middle order of the team which has more power hitters might trouble to set up the match for the team.

Especially with Shadab Khan making a comeback, if the Pakistani pacers manage to pick up a couple of early wickets it will be interesting to see how Sri Lanka handle things. 

Taking on the Sri Lankan pacers

The Sri Lankan pacers have been through hot and cold form in the Asia Cup (PC: Twitter)

The Sri Lankan pace bowling line-up has not performed as a unit till now in the tournament. Partnerships have been missing in their bowling. In different matches, different bowlers have done well but till now a team effort has been missing.

So if the Pakistani top order can target particular bowlers, they might take an advantage in the match. 

Restricting the Sri Lankan middle order

The Sri Lankan middle order looks power packed (PC: Twitter)

Barring Danushka Gunathilaka the Sri Lankan middle order is mostly packed with batters who like to take on the bowling. Because of some stable knocks by the openers till now in the tournament, the middle order has expressed themselves freely. Players like Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasuna Shanaka have played some vital knocks in crucial situations and pulled the team out of trouble. 

The Pakistani team can hence look to restrict the scoring rate of the Sri Lankan middle order. If the boundaries are dried up, then how the Sri Lankan handle the situation will go a long way in determining the result of the match. 

The two teams having already faced each other in the previous match will have a general knowledge of the opposition. Having reached the finals of the tournament it will all be about which team executes the plans properly and holds their nerves on the night. 

The cricket fans will be eager to watch a competitive match and hope that the best team lifts the trophy. 

Also Read:  Dasun Shanaka ecstatic ahead of the summit clash against Pakistan