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Sri Lanka 'A' has the edge in batting against Pakistan
By Aubrey Kuruppu
The word "Pakistan" seems to be on the minds and lips of many cricket followers in Sri Lanka at this present juncture. Given the importance attached to "A" team matches as well as to those at under 19 level, Sri Lanka's under 19 tour of Pakistan and Pakistan "A" team's tour of Sri Lanka assume great importance. The juniors had a very good outing in Pakistan, but at "A" team level, the balance was redressed.

Misbah-ul-Haq's team carried all before them in the one day games but faltered and stumbled in the final. In truth, they were fortunate to pull it off, courtesy the Duckworth Lewis formula. Their batting which had been very impressive up to that point suddenly developed a stutter, with a couple of batsmen holding out limp bats far away from their bodies.

Wasti was undone early, but Misbah played some bold strokes and packed an aggressive punch. But the revelation was the world's youngest test player, Hassan Raza. He seemed to be the classiest, playing his strokes with precision and timing and seeming to have loads of time. He struck Malinga Bandara for a six early on, but the massive six off Dilhara Fernando, one ball after being struck down by a shoulder high full toss, showed great character and temperament.

Pacemen Asif and Rauf bowled with some pace and movement, but the hero of the second win over England - Yassir Arafat - was a shambles, conceding 42 in his 6 overs, Zaidi with his flatter trajectory was impressive.

Sri Lanka A's batting has mostly been about Arnold with a bit of Vandort. The formers resurrection has been welcomed in most quarters. He must have thrust his name firmly before the eyes of the selectors for the one dayers in India. It was also good to see Van Dort in the runs. If the hundred was bit of a stutter, his subsequent half centuries were more fluent.

Enigmatic Daniel continues to spurn the chances offered. Skipper Mubarak is presently in the horrors and needs to bounce back quickly so that he can lead from the front. On his captaincy, I wonder why he didn't use Arnold's off breaks in the final.

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