By Srian Oveyesekere

Today’s second of the 3 match T20 series will be seriously make or break for hosts Sri Lanka versus a resurgent 1-up Pakistan in the high road bigger picture T20 World Cup high road where the onus will be heavily on the Sri Lankans to break even to winning what will be by every stretch a test of Sri Lanka’s ability in the fast format that Dasun Shanaka and his charges will thus importantly face the acid test of going through, a challenge that will hinge on firing from the hip particularly in the game dictating batting department against a proven compatible Pakistan pace-spin attack that has been on song from the very 3-0 home series high to dictating terms in the lung opener at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium a day ago.

Therein, Sri Lanka’s comeback from a trailing handicap that does give Salman Agha’s Pakistan the edge will be of producing nothing short of the type of firebrand cricket this fast flying format demands if they are to corner a now rampant Pakistan, a demand the Lankan camp will necessarily have to address by putting out the right mix of players to winning on a wicket that is equally favourable to batting and bowling with the early bounce a fifty fifty go for batsmen in the short boundary ground, and to fast bowlers as much that progressively gives way to spin.

While the toss will be an important factor to the outcome, Sri Lanka’s think tanks will have to sort out the batting where skipper Dasun Shanaka should shoulder responsibility in showcasing his batting prowess higher up the order than a late drawn No 8 while young batting all-rounder Pavan Ratnayake should be further groomed given his batting zest in looking to the ideal world cup build up.