Cricket

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka: Second T20 Preview

by
Jason Dewey
February 17, 2018

Batsman faces bowler in front of packed cordon

Can Bangladesh bounce back in the second T20 International against Sri Lanka which is set to take place on Sunday 18 February?

The hosts were pretty impressive with the bat in the series opener, but lacked penetration with the ball – and will do well to bowl yorkers or bouncers, not a weak middle ground, this time.

The tourists are brimming with confidence on the back of their highest ever successful chase in T20I cricket, but will know at least one of their openers must kick onto greater proportions.

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka | February, 18 February | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium | 13:00

To Win Match

Bangladesh 29/20

Tie 35/1

Sri Lanka 57/100

Bangladesh

Bangladesh will continue their quest to be the complete package. If their batting fires, their bowling must too – and vice versa. They might not have the services of Shakib al Hasan again, who is nursing an injury – so Mushfiqur Rahim with the willow and Nazmul Islam with the ball must step up.

They have to get Tamim Iqbal into the XI. Zakir Hasan could make way for the veteran opener, who has the ability to take the contest away from the opposition with a big knock. He’ll require appropriate support, though – and the onus is on Soumya Sarkar to bat as well as he did in Dhaka. But conditions in Sylhet will challenging somewhat more challenging.

Elsewhere, there is no genuine reason to tinker with the team. All the bowlers except Islam copped plenty of expense earlier this weak, but the seamers in particular just need to stretch for stronger lengths. As stand in skipper Mohammad Mahmudullah said: yorkers or bouncers, not a poor length somewhere in between.

The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has hosted six T20Is, but Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have never played here. This fixture will be the first high-profile match, after Ireland, Zimbabwe, Netheralands and others broke it in during the 2014 World Twenty20. Bowling first seems the right choice, as five of the six matches have been won by the team batting second.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s dominance in the chase in the first T20I would have brought them the world of confidence for the rest of the series. They’ll be in for another inspired fight against an opposition unit eager to get their bowling right – and follow that up with another sterling performance at the crease.

With no Kusal Perera and Angelo Mathews around, plenty of responsibility will again be placed on Upul Tharanga and company. Tharanga was the only Sri Lankan who missed out in Dhaka. His cheap dismissal to Islam capped a solid day for the Bangladeshi spinner, who will look to capitalise on the same weaknesses.

The Tigers might open the bowling with two turners. Mohammad Saifuddin can then be left to enter the attack after the opening powerplay, when the pressure is slightly less and freedom to explore variations more. Sri Lanka’s experienced middle order will be wise to this, though – and could do some exploring of their own from deep within and well outside of the crease.

The tourists had some bowling problems of their own in Mirpur, all of which need prompt correction. Seamer Shehan Madushanka’s debut wasn’t a memorable one – and he’ll insist on better, but could come up against an attacking Tamim. That could turn into a heavy baptism of fire or a fine opportunity to prove his worth.

Verdict: Bangladesh 29/20

At a relatively unexplored venue and with some swift fixes from the series opener, the Tigers have it in them to draw this series – and then focus on their next challenge: India in March.