Do or die situation for the Sri Lanka when they take on the host Pakistan in third ODI on Wednesday. Things got the chance for the host, long ago that Pakistan was considered a modest ODI outfit playing an outdated form of the game. Their batting was too slow, their bowlers not penetrative enough, and their fielding conformed to stereotype. Now, suddenly, having beaten the world, they have begun to play like world-beaters.

The Sri Lanka can only look on with jealousy. There, despite the many changes over the last year, there have been no signs of reinvigoration. The nine-match losing streak is their worst in 30 years, their bowlers rarely take wickets, and even when they do in the second ODI on Monday. The batsmen failed to score the runs. What's worse is that so many players who began their careers with promise have begun to flounder in this format. Dinesh Chandimal was once an outstanding limited-overs prospect, now he can barely hold a place in the XI. For the visitor lost their five games and need to win to survive in the series.

Having won eight of their last nine ODIs now, Pakistan has begun to acquire an aura of indomitability. Having reduced them to 101 for 6 and still failed, Sri Lanka must be wondering what they have to do to win a match. That, in the middle of a series, SLC is trying to convince individual players to agree to play the third T20 is Lahore, is perhaps also drawing focus from the series at hand. Whatever the case, Pakistan now has the chance to lock down this series. Sri Lanka must reach for a special performance to break their abysmal streak.

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