Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Betting Tips & Winner Prediction | Asia Cup Final
It wasn’t the final we anticipated, but it might be the final we all deserve - and we have our Sri Lanka vs Pakistan betting tips ready to go!
The first ball of the final will be bowled from 7.30 pm IST on Sunday 11th September at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. We’ve been covering the competition throughout and we hope we can find you some winners in your cricket betting online for one final time in this competition.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Betting Odds
These two met in a dead rubber on Friday, with Sri Lanka upsetting the odds and claiming a memorable five-wicket victory over the team in green. We predicted a victory for the Lions as part of our previous Sri Lanka vs Pakistan betting tips at bigger odds, and we’re going with the underdogs once more.
Our oddsmakers have Babar Azam’s team as favourites at odds of 1.56, while you can back Sri Lanka at odds of 2.44 - the latter represents great value and we’ll be tipping them up to win their sixth Asia Cup trophy, which is the second-highest number of titles won by an individual team in the history of the competition. For more free cricket betting tips, see below.
Match Winner: Sri Lanka
Toss Winner: Sri Lanka
Wanindu Hasaranga tip Sri Lanka bowler
Babar Azam top Pakistan batsman
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Betting Prediction: Winner
The dead rubber on Friday between these two was a strange affair - it felt very much like a dress rehearsal for the main event. However, onlookers may have gleaned more from the match-up than they might have thought.
There were some rumours before the match that superstar spinner Wanindu Hasaranga would be rested so as to hide him from Pakistan’s batsman. However, there was no such selection shock - and Hasaranga set about a talented batting line-up, taking 3/21 from four overs to lead his team in a sensational bowling performance that dismissed the team in green for just 121 from 19.1 overs.
In response, there were some early jitters - Sri Lanka were 2/2 from 1.2 overs. However, some excellent opening batting by Pathum Nissanka (55 not out from 48 balls) guided his team to the target with three overs and five wickets to spare.
The rise to prominence by Sri Lanka is particularly impressive because of their awful form coming into the tournament. Before a ball was bowled in the Asia Cup, the Lions had lost nine of their previous 11 T20Is, and were fast-becoming also rans in the international arena. Now the cricketing world is alive to the threats they pose. Their form is all the more impressive given the list of injuries selectors have had to deal with - Avishka Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, and Kusal Perera are all missing from the squad.
Pakistan, meanwhile, had their sights set on the final and have now met those expectations. However, there will be some concerns as attention inevitably turns to the World Cup - namely surrounding the form of Babar Azam. The skipper is enduring the first real sticky patch in his international career - after five games in the Asia Cup, he has just 63 runs at an average of 12.60 and a strike rate of 110.52. However, his quickfire 30 against a dangerous Sri Lankan bowling attack on Friday may help him find his touch.
Best Bet: Wanindu Hasaranga top Sri Lanka bowler
By his standards, Hasaranga had a quiet tournament before his three wickets on Friday. It shouldn’t be a surprise, though, given his record against the team in green. In four games against Pakistan, he boasts figures of 2/20, 3/38, 3/21, and 3/21. His haul also propelled him to the second-highest all time wicket taker for Sri Lanka in T20Is - only Lasith Malinga has picked up more.
He loves this opponent, he’s a top class spinner, and he’s a big game player - all of which points us to tipping him as the top Sri Lanka wicket taker. You can back him at odds of 3.25 with Pure Win.
It’s not been the tournament Babar Azam would have been hoping for, but he’s too good a player on the big stage to continue posting failures.
His overall T20I record continues to read incredibly healthily - he averages 42.95 with a strike rate of 128.93 in his international career.
You can back him at odds of 2.94 with Pure Win for him to top score for Pakistan.
Wanindu Hasaranga top Sri Lanka bowler - 3.75
Babar Azam top Pakistan batsman - 2.94
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Head-to-Head
The Sri Lanka vs Pakistan head to head record currently reads 13-9 in favour of the team in green. The win on Friday was only the second time the Lions have beaten Pakistan when batting second.
Venue & Weather Forecast
Only three of the previous 22 T20Is that have taken place at the Dubai International Stadium have been won by the team batting first - there is a clear statistical advantage for teams chasing.
The weather will be hot and humid - as usual, bowlers will have to deal with excess dew.
Pakistan Team News
There were some changes for Pakistan on Friday, with Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah resting for the main event on Sunday. They’re both likely to come back in for Usman Qadir and Hasan Ali, with the team in green reverting to the same XI that had won the previous three matches.
Sri Lanka Team News
The Lions are likely to remain unchanged,
Conclusion
Pakistan are aiming to end a decade-long Asia Cup drought, but we reckon the Lions will go two from two and win their sixth title. However you decide to bet, make sure you do it responsibly, at Pure Win!
