Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2023 Super 4: R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report & Weather Forecast

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will meet for the first time in the Asia Cup 2023 when they clash in a crucial Super 4 match at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Thursday (September 14).

Sri Lanka head into the match fresh from a 41-run loss to India in a low-scoring match at the same venue in Colombo, where Pakistan suffered a thumping 238-run loss to arch-rivals India in their most recent outing in the Asia Cup.

R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 Match 4

Both teams need a win to book a final meeting with India. But, the weather has been a concern this tournament with India vs Pakistan match needing a reserve day to complete the fixture, while India vs Sri Lanka match on Tuesday (September 12) was also interrupted by rain.

Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lanka and Babar Azam's Pakistan - the co-hosts of the tournament, will be playing in a virtual semi-final. If weather plays spoilsport, the Sri Lankans will be a happier side. But will weather completely wash out play on Thursday (September 14)?

With weather conditions once again likely to influence the match that has no reserve day, here is a look at the R Premadasa Stadium pitch report and Colombo weather forecast ahead of SL vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match:

R Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report

The wickets at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium are known to be batting friendly, but provide spinners some assistance as the game progresses with the teams batting first enjoying more success compared to the teams chasing. Teams batting first have won 79 times in the 144 ODI.

In the ongoing tournament, we saw the same pattern in three matches with teams batting first enjoying success. While two were tight contests with spin coming into play, the India vs Pakistan match was a one-sided contest in which Indian bowling dominated.

However, the India vs Sri Lanka match saw spinner come into play as the Men in Blue lost all their 10 wickets to Lankan spinners and Kuldeep Yadav also dominated when India bowled in their two matches at the venue. So, spin is likely to dominate again.

The average score batting first at the venue in 226. So, the captain winning the toss on Thursday (September 14) may also look to follow the pattern of getting runs on the board and use the slowing wicket to their advantage.

But with rain affecting the matches at the venue so far, but none have ended in No Result. However, none of the other matches except for the final will have a reserve day. So, how will the weather play for Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on September 14?

R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Weather Forecast on Thursday, September 14

It is expected to be no different to the earlier days this week with overcast conditions and a couple of showers being predicted along with a thunderstorm later in the day. The maximum temperature is expected to be 31° C at the start of the match, reducing to 27° C in the night.

Rain Prediction for September 14 in Colombo: According AccuWeather, there is chance of thunderstorms from early morning around 5 AM, 7 AM and 9 AM with thunderstorms returning again for spells at 2 PM, 5 PM and then again at 8 PM.

So, as per the weather forecast, the PAK vs SL match is likely to be interrupted by rain. However, there is chance of obtaining a result if most of the day is washed out, but if a minimum of 4 hours of play is possible, then a result can be obtained 20-over per side match.