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This Karachi pitch is a batsmen's paradise, a bowlers graveyard and I expect the same today as Sri Lanka face their first big test in this tournament against the hosts.

Prices on the exchanges:

Pakistan 2.22

Sri Lanka 1.82

WRONG!! WRONG!!

Yes Sri Lanka have won their two games so far convincingly, but they were expected to do that against United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh, But Pakistan is a class above and there is no way Sri Lanka should be favourites.

Sri Lanka have done well in recent years, but in head to heads against the other big two in Asia, they have remained 3rd best, having lost the vast majority of games against India and Pakistan.

As I said, this Karachi pitch is all about batting strength, not bowling. India chased up 300 against Pakistan here at a canter, and Bangladesh scored 283 yesterday, but again saw India chase it up at another canter.

Today will see another run fest and this time I think it will be the Pakistan batting that will be doing the cantering.

In their last ten completed fifty over innings at Karachi, Pakistan have scores of, 304-9, 275-6, 302-5, 344-8, 353-6, 286-6, 347-5, 329-9, 288-9 and 299-4 !!

That's an average of 300 + and if they bat first today, I believe they will continue that sequence.

Sri Lanka chasing or posting anything close to 300 will not find it as easy as India did. Whilst they got Class players in Jayasaura, Sangakarra and Jayawardne, they don't have the batting depth that India boasts. In fact the last time they played in Karachi , they could only muster 232-9 and Pakistan chased it down losing just two wickets!

Overall in recent head to heads Pakistan has won nine from thirteen meetings and I fully expect this superiority to be confirmed again today.

One reason for Pakistan being outsiders today could be the news that they will be missing one of their premier bowlers, Umar Gul, for the rest of this tournament.

Gul will obviously be a miss, but as I keep stressing, this Karachi pitch is a bowler's graveyard and so I don't think too much emphasis should be put on Gul missing.

Bottom line is that, on this pitch, Sri Lanka will need to post or chase well over 300 to win this game today.

Sri Lanka have only scored 300+ ONCE against Pakistan in last forty five matches, and that was eleven years ago !

This 2.22 on Pakistan represents exceptional value and therefore my suggested bet for this game is:

BACK Pakistan for 3 points @ 2.22 on Betfair

Bigjoe.