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Australia will love to maintain their clean record in the World T20 2012 when they play Pakistan in Colombo with the match beginning at 8 pm Australia time.
It’s two wins in as many games for Australia in the Super Eights and four successive victories in the tournament so far. They are virtually assured of a semi-final berth unless they implode unimaginably badly.
One man, in turn, continues to dominate the headlines for Australia.
Shane Watson picked up a record-equalling fourth successive man-of-the-match award against South Africa in another show of fine all-round performance.
Pakistan will have to stop the Watson juggernaut to have a chance at the softer Australian middle-order.
The equation for Pakistan is a tad difficult. Not only have they to win the game but they also need to do it well in order to further India’s problems in the last game. Pakistan have a disadvantage in that they play their game before India.
Watson has been helped by fellow bowlers too. Mitchell Starc continues to do a decent job. Patrick Cummins has been inconsistent but on his day will make life difficult for the batsmen.
And then there was a surprise selection of Xavier Doherty last game. After resisting the temptation to play Doherty against India, he opened the bowling in the South Africa game.
A wicket in the first over, then in the third of the game before returning to scalp another one in a later spell meant that his selection proved to be a master-move.
With Brad Hogg struggling, it will be interesting to see what spin bowling combination will Australia opt for in this game.
Pakistan have batting woes of their own. In two successive games now, they have given the looks of a team who is still playing strokes on the Pallekele pitch where they featured in their opening round encounters.
Instead, the Colombo tracks are slower and need patience to work on.
Starting from captain Mohammad Hafeez, likes of Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal haven’t found the going too easy and against the Australian attack it will not easier.
Pakistan will take heart from their 2-1 win over Australia in the T20I series played last month in Dubai. The tracks there were not too dissimilar from these and if Saeed Ajmal can spin his magic and likes of Afridi and young left-arm spinner Raza Hasan can afford him support, things could heat up.
Australia should still be favourites to win this but a lot could depend on how the middle-order goes as well.
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