Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Preview: Improved Pakistan ready for Sri Lanka

Pakistan celebrate during their victory over England.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has urged his team to “stay ruthless” at the World Cup as they train their sights on Sri Lanka after shocking England.

The notoriously unpredictable Pakistan side held their nerve to beat the hosts by 14 runs at Trent Bridge on Monday, just three days after being-humiliated by the West Indies by seven-wickets at the same venue.

That ended a sequence of 11 consecutive defeats in completed one-day internationals.

The way in which Pakistan responded to their first up loss was impressive, amassing an impressive 348 runs against the much-fancied England attack, with fifties from vetern Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Pacemen Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and leg-spinner Shadab Khan, took the wickets to restrict England to 334-9 off their 50 overs. Pakistan will be tempted to bring in fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain for his raw pace, something that New Zealand exploited against Sri Lanka during their 10-wicket rout of their opponents in Cardiff on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan in a rain-affected match, also in Cardiff, to breathe life into their campaign.

But the 1996 champions will be wary of another middle-order batting collapse after they lost five wickets for just 14 runs against New Zealand and seven wickets for a paltry 36 runs against Afghanistan.

A much improved batting performance will be required for Sri Lanka if they are to overcome Pakistan, who have won every encounter between these two sides in the World Cup.

The one factor outside both sides control is the weather, with persistent rain forecast for Bristol on Friday. WATCH OUT FOR - Nuwan Pradeep

Nuwan Pradeep was exceptional against Afghanistan.

A big loss to New Zealand in their first match, Sri Lanka looked like being in trouble defending just 201 runs Afghanistan. But Nuwan Pradeep, along with Lasith Malinga, ensured that the islanders returned full points in the contest, with Pradeep the star finishing with 4/31 off nine overs. Pradeep is part of a medium-pace battery that can be effective on their day, but often fail to deliver. Knowing that wins against sides like Pakistan are crucial for Sri Lanka and expect to see Pradeep lead the attack again. PREDICTION Pakistan look like a settled unit, despite their first up loss, and will be high after their impressive performance against England. Sri Lanka on the other hand have been in free-fall in recent times, and failed to capitalise against former minnows Afghanistan in their recent rain-affected match. There are too many question marks surrounding this Sri Lankan team to predict a victory, we expect Pakistan to pick up the two points here today.

Pakistan to win by 60-80 runs / 4-5 wickets.

STATISTICS HEAD TO HEAD ODI Matches: 153 Afghanistan: 90

Sri Lanka: 58

Tied: 1 N/R: 4

HEAD TO HEAD IN WORLD CUPS

Matches: 7

Pakistan: 7 Sri Lanka: 0

WORLD CUP RECORDS

Pakistan

Matches: 73

Won: 41

Lost: 30

Best Result - Winners (1992)

Sri Lanka

Matches: 75

Won: 35

Lost: 36

Tie: 1

Best Result - Winners (1996)

ODI Record since World Cup 2015:

Pakistan

Matches: 82

Won: 36 Lost: 43

Sri Lanka

Matches: 87

Won: 24

Lost: 56