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Batting have powered Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 Championship in the group stages. However, a close look at their bowling shows gaping holes which can be easily exploited by Pakistan when they face each other today in the Super 8s.

According to Castrol Index, Sri Lanka’s Bowling Efficiency (BE) has slipped from 226 in the first match to 113. The presence of two world class spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis has always been a big boon to Sri Lanka. But the supporting bowlers are being given the treatment by opposition batsmen, especially Malinga and Isuru Udana who are conceding runs at more than 10 runs per over. This must be putting skipper Kumara Sangakkara in a spot of bother because of the improved Batting Momentum (BM) that drove Pakistan’s performance against Netherlands.

It could be an interesting contest when wicket-taking bowlers like Mendis and Muralitharan bowl against the leading run scorers of Pakistan Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan.

Sri Lankan Bowling Performance in ICC T20

Pakistan also needs to bolster their bowling, especially against dynamic duo of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Younis Khan might consider using his successful spin bowling options during the Powerplay to provide early jolts to Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Bowling Performance in ICC T20

Both the teams are plagued with poor fielding, while Sri Lanka’s wayward bowling performance has resulted in 27 extras being conceded. The match is likely to be decided on who bowls and fields better.