Pakistan has two opponents, but Sri Lanka only one!

sri lanka's progress in this tournament is a great advertisement for bowlers in t20 cricket. with a slightly shaky batting line up that is over-reliant at the moment on the top 4 they have marched into the final without losing a game. but now they will come up against a side to whom their bowling isn't a great mystery and who possess a well rounded bowling side themselves.

sri lanka are riding a wave of confidence but will be a bit worried about the fact that they have been propped up by the great form of tillekaratne dilshan. sanath jayasuriya isn't looking in great form but he is one of the finest big game players and if he plays with freedom in the final, he could give sri lanka the runs they need for their bowlers.

both sides like to bat first and while the toss isn't that important in t20 normally (it was at trent bridge where, quite frankly the wickets weren't suitable for a tournament of this nature), on the big day you want to score runs first. it means a great deal for both sides to win this and there will be the extra, difficult to account for, factor of pressure. if sri lanka have to bat second and lose a couple of early wickets pakistan will fancy their chances.

but then you just can't tell with pakistan. afridi might fire a quick 50 or pop the first ball up in the air. that is why the return of razzak is so important for them. it allows them to bat till no 8 and absorb a few early losses. i have also noticed that shoaib malik is playing a lot of shots early on and maybe the mandate is that younus and misbah will handle a crisis if it arises and that the top three, especially akmal and afridi, will be given the licence to play the big shots.

pakistan are looking the more rounded but they have to play against two opponents; sri lanka and themselves. by contrast the lankans have only to play pakistan.