Cricket World Cup: Pakistan v Sri Lanka betting preview, tip, team news & TV

TV: Sky Sports Cricket / Main Event, 10.30am Friday

Pakistan have maintained their tag as the most fickle side in limited-overs cricket, posting the highest and lowest totals at this summer's World Cup in their opening two matches.

After being skittled out for 105 against the West Indies, Pakistan defied 100-30 quotes to beat England with a score of 348 at Trent Bridge.

Opponents Sri Lanka also have one win and one defeat to their name but both their performances have been flat. They failed to take a single wicket against New Zealand and won by virtue of Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method against minnows Afghanistan.

They could be out of their depth against a Pakistan top-order who gave England's pace attack a testing examination in Nottingham.

Best bets

With a mere 28 one-day international appearances under his belt and as nephew of Pakistan's chief selector, opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq came into this World Cup with a point to prove.

Starting his campaign against a ferocious Windies pace attack, who dismissed him for two, was far from desirable but he responded with a confident knock against England.

The 23-year-old set the tone for an excellent performance from Pakistan, reaching a total of 44, which featured three fours and one six.

That display would have come as no surprise to those who followed Pakistan's recent ODI series with hosts England.

Imam-ul-Haq fired 35 and an unbeaten 42 in matches at the Rose Bowl and the Oval respectively but it was the short boundaries in Bristol which helped him to achieve his best score in the format of 151.

He could be value to top-score for his side upon his return to the County Ground against Sri Lanka's opening bowlers Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal, who struggled to contain top-order batsmen Colin Munro and Martin Guptill in their first game.

Pakistan's pacemen, meanwhile, were in fine nick at Trent Bridge, with Mohammad Amir, who claimed the decisive scalp of Jos Buttler, closing on figures of 2-67 after taking three wickets in their first game.

The 27-year-old could represent value to be their top wicket-taker when bowling against the feeble Lankans top-order.

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Team news

Pakistan
Micky Arthur's men are expected to field the same team who beat England in Nottingham.

Sri Lanka
Avishka Fernando or all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana could come into the team.

Venue

The West Indies made the most of Bristol County Ground's short boundaries with an eye-watering 421 against New Zealand in a warm-up game last month. That was one of three totals over 350 runs scored there since the start of May.

Weather
Expected to be cloudy with intermittent shows and highs of 17C.

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