Sri Lanka v Pakistan 4th ODI at Colombo, Aug 07, 2009

Colombo: Pakistan never really looked like a settled unit through-out their tour of Sri Lanka. Having said this, the third ODI against the Lankans saw a shift in gear, with the likes of Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers coming to the party. However, the bowling struggled to contain Jayawardene and Tharanga, who took the game away, and with it the series. Facing a lot of flak from the former players, and the match-fixing demon looming around the team, Younis Khan and his men would look to salvage some pride by attempting to win the last two matches. 

Sri Lanka has played eight ODIs against Pakistan at the Premadasa in which Sri Lanka has won 5 matches while ending up on the losing side three times. The last ODI played here between these sides was in 2006 which Sri Lanka lost to Pakistan by 4 wickets. 

Team news

Pakistan: Reports from Colombo say that Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq will take no further part in the series. Gul is suffering from an ankle injury and Razzaq is down with a calf injury. If they are indeed missing then Pakistan have no option but to recall Yousuf and hand Rao Iftikhar Anjum a game. As for the opening conundrum, Imran Nazir should get a run in the XI. After identical dismissals in consecutive games, steering catches to the slip cordon, Nasir Jamshed has to go.

Squad (probable): Kamran Akmal (wk), mran Nazir, Younis Khan (c), Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Aamer, Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

Sri Lanka: With the series won, Sri Lanka have the luxury of resting a few players if they choose to. Muttiah Muralitharan may make way for Ajantha Mendis or Malinga Bandara.

Squad (probable): Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (c & wk), Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando, Ajantha Mendis.

Pitch and conditions
The weather in Colombo at the moment is fairly wet and overcast with only periods of sunshine. Scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Friday and Sri Lanka's chances of victory are greater in a low-scoring contest - their batsmen are more adept at nudging difficult runs and the conditions could aid their fast bowlers. Friday's match is the first day-night affair of the series and the side winning the toss should opt to bat and post a competitive total, hoping their bowlers will have use the conditions under floodlights to put the opposition under pressure.

Stats and trivia

• 250 sixers scored by Shahid Afridi in his ODI career. Sanath jayasuriya holds the first place with 270 sixers. 
• 161 catches taken by Jayawardene, placing him on top of the list of cricketers who have taken the most catches.

Match facts
Friday August 7, 2009 (day/night)
Start time 14.30 (09.00 GMT)

Highlights of the match