PETER Martin aims to stop the Sri Lankan run riot at Faisalabad tomorrow.

England's quarter-final opponents have set the tournament on fire with their thrilling batting, chasing 280 to beat India and smashing a world record 398 against Kenya.

But Martin isn't fazed by the prospect of bowling to them. "They go for their shots, but as a bowler you don't mind that because you feel as though they might give you a chance," said the 27-year-old.

"You have sleepless nights worrying about how to deal with batsmen like that. All we can do is maintain our discipline and keep things as tight as possible particularly in the first 15 overs."

Aravinda de Silva is the Sri Lankan batsman best known in England after his stint with Kent last year. And especially to Lancashire fans after his ton in the Benson and Hedges Cup Final.

Martin missed that game with an ankle injury, but says: "I watched de Silva through binoculars and it was a great innings. But there are others in the team who have shown they are just as dangerous, perhaps even more so."

England will have to watch explosive openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Kaluwitharana, who slammed 43 off the first three overs against India and 50 off 20 balls against Kenya.

With Dominic Cork out injured, Martin is set to share the new ball with Phil Defreitas on another pitch which is sure to favour the batsmen.

"Bowling on the slow pitches out here can make you feel like you're busting a gut just to deliver a pie," he admitted.

"It hasn't been easy, but I feel we are talented enough to beat Sri Lanka, in fact to beat most other teams in the competition. It's just a question of pulling together on the day."

But the Pakistani press don't agree.

Today one newspaper billed the game as "the team of the moment against yesterday's men." Another predicted a one-sided clash between "the world's most explosive batting line-up against the worst Test status bowling attack."

That should give Martin and his team mates plenty of motivation.

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