Anil Kumble
A fresh pitch awaits the two finalists (four actually) at Lords on Sunday as also a sizzling atmosphere. It is rare indeed for any sport to see a mens and womens final played at the same venue and on the same day, but that is what T20 cricket is all about, expecting the unexpected. While Pakistan and Sri Lanka would no doubt be delighted to take each other on in the final, the women from Australia and England would regard it a great honour to be able to play at Lords and that too in such a high-profile event.
How the West Indies would have loved to be part of it all. Poor Chris Gayle, he was forced to stand and watch the destruction of his team from the other end. When a team that has opted to chase loses as many as three wickets in the very first over, there is very little that can be done by way of recovery.
It wasnt a typical Oval pitch that the second semifinal was played on, its two-paced nature making the batsmen wary, but the Lankans exploited it best. Dilshan is in the form of his life and his buckling down to the task and batting all the way through, made the task of the bowlers that much easier.
That though has been the way the tournament has gone thus far for Sri Lanka and Pakistan. For both sides, it is the bowling that has really shone and defending totals of just over 150 has been made to look easy. That said, both teams like to set the target, which makes toss so crucial to their plans.
The two finalists have an unnerving sameness to their purpose. Both havent won any major title since 1992 and 1996, when Pakistan first and Lanka next, won the bigger World Cup (the Lankans were joint winners in the Champions Trophy once in between). Both were finalists in World Cups in 2007 (Lanka in the Caribbean and Pakistan in South Africa in the inaugural World T20), making it a case of so near, yet so far.
On Sunday though, one of them has to win and end the title drought. And once again it is the bowlers who will hold the key. Should the team batting first manage a score in the region of 150, a handy total in any game but more so in a final, the chase will be very, very tough. But the defense of a lower total cannot be ruled out, making for a thriller.
For Pakistan, the return of Abdur Razzaq has changed the dynamics of the side. They now have an experienced bowler at the top of the attack. Also Razzaqs prowess with the bat in the late middle order means Shahid Afridi can bat in the top-order without the side losing too much firepower later on. The form of Afridi, now with bat and ball, as also people like Gull and Ajmal, is a great bonus to have.
The Lankans didnt make it to the final without having enough of their own men in form. They are top heavy in the batting but someone or the other has held the innings together, like Dilshan did on Friday, and that has allowed the posting of decent totals.
The Lankan bowling, like that of the Pakistanis, has great variety and class, making for an interesting battle ahead.
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