Which Pakistan will Sri Lanka face?

Trading since 1841, 'The Robin Hood' is one of the oldest active establishments in the university town of Bristol. This pub screens sports games, runs weekly quizzes, offers special discounts to college faculty and if you are up for it, its affable owner even indulges foreign students with fables of a heroic outlaw from Nottinghamshire after whom the pub is named. It would take English folklore and the tales of Robin Hood to comprehend Pakistan at this World Cup so far: They've taken points from the No.1 side - England - and given it to the No.8 side - West Indies.

Sri Lanka, ranked one place below West Indies, might have grounds to expect similar benevolence from Sarfaraz's Robin Hoods. Because, if Pakistan were to conform to natural order for once, they will start Friday's clash as overwhelming favourites. They are 5-0 against Sri Lanka in their last five ODIs and 7-0 in World Cup clashes - a record that shades even the famous one India have against them in this marquee tournament (6-0, ICYMI).

It took Roger Federer to put losing streaks in perspective this week. Ahead of his French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal, Federer who has never beaten his nemesis in five attempts on the Parisian clay, said: "There is always a chance in sports. Otherwise, nobody will be in the stadium to watch because everybody already knows the result in advance. And I think sport does that to you, that every match needs to be played before it's decided."

And so, Sri Lanka have 'a chance'. When clouds align, as they are forecast to, their pace attack led by Lasith Malinga can match Pakistan's for efficacy, if not for pace and spectacle. It is their under-fire middle-order, that'll have lesser breathing room to shrug off form against a