World Twenty20 Cricket: Sri Lanka and Pakistan set to spin it out

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are set to serve up a trial by spin for one another in today’s first semi-final at the ICC World Twenty20.

Pakistan booked their place at the Premadasa Stadium with a Super Eight win over Australia at the same venue on Tuesday, in a match dominated by 18 overs from their slow bowlers.

Home side Sri Lanka have the personnel to employ similar tactics, on a pitch likely to reward them. While Sri Lanka can choose between Ajantha and Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Rangana Herath – and opener Tillekeratne Dilshan as a part-time option – Pakistan are even more blessed with possibilities.

The hosts will doubtless respect Pakistan’s spin threat, but have another factor to harness – the expectation of a capacity and partisan crowd.