Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan, 1st Test: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Pakistan have a 0-1 series lead after beating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in first match in Galle. Sri Lanka need to win in order to keep their hope of a series win in the three-Test series alive. 

Date: Thu., June 25 — Mon., June 29

Time: 10 a.m. local (04:30 a.m. GMT)

Venue: P Sara Oval, Colombo

Live stream and TV info: Ten Cricket and PTV Sports (Pakistan), Rupavahini Corporation (Sri Lanka)

Weather: As with the first Test, AccuWeather.com predicts plenty of showers during the Test. There should be plenty of dry spells to allow for both teams to push for a result, though.

Overview

Pakistan pulled off a spectacular 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third Test in Galle earlier this week. On a difficult pitch for batsmen, Sri Lanka capitulated and were undone by a combination of batting grit from Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed and some crafty bowling from Yasir Shah. Shah, who has played just seven Tests having made his debut last year, took nine wickets as Pakistan romped to a remarkable win. 

For Sri Lanka opener Kaushal Silva, neutralising Shah will be central to his side's game plan. Sri Lanka struggled to get Shah away in the first Test and on average managed just 2.6 off every single one of his 60-plus overs. In the next Test, which begins in Colombo on Thursday, Sri Lanka will be looking to transfer the pressure. Silva was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo as saying:

"

I think when you have a good bowler, you have to put pressure on him to receive loose balls. As batsmen, we have to put him under pressure, because if we play the same way, he'll keep putting the ball in that same spot. If he does that, it's difficult to play the strokes we want.

If we use our feet, we should be able to get singles and twos, and the odd four. We've got to rotate the strike. If we do that, he can't settle down and bowl at one batsman.

"

For Pakistan, the win will go a long way in boosting their confidence. It was their first triumph on Sri Lankan soil in nine years. Colombo should offer a much sterner test, with tracks there somewhat flatter traditionally and the monsoon season likely to have its say over the course of five days. Still, Pakistan could not have started this tour any better, and the pressure is all on Sri Lanka to bounce back.

Key players

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's bowlers had a torrid time in the first Test. Not a single one had an average of below 33.66 and just two had an economy rate of below 4.00. The batsmen will need to up their game, and Kumar Sangakkara will be central to that approach. As one of the key senior players remaining in the team, Sangakkara will have to lead from the front.

Pakistan

Yasir Shah might be relatively new to international cricket, but he has already proved to be invaluable. While some of his effectiveness might have been a result of the novelty factor, Shah is an incredibly skilful bowler, and that skill can bamboozle even the best in the world.

Squads

Sri Lanka

Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, T Kaushal, Jehan Mubarak, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dinesh Chandimal, Kumar Sangakkara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dushmantha Chameera

Pakistan

Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Imran Khan, Wahab Riaz, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Sarfraz Ahmed, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez