Tri-series: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka

We take a look at Thursday’s Tri-Series fixture between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to be played in Mirpur.

Zimbabwe have effectively been booted from the tri-series after just one win in four attempts, leaving the remaining teams to contest a fixture that could be perceived as a deadrubber or tantalising precursor to Sunday’s final.

Predictable home ground advantage will again align with Bangladesh’s gameplans, while Sri Lanka are looking substantially stronger than they did a week ago, when they suffered a shock defeat to the Zimbabweans.

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka | Thursday 25 January | Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur | 8:00

To Win Match
Bangladesh 53/100 | Tie 35/1 | Sri Lanka 31/20

Bangladesh
The only undefeated team in the tournament, the Tigers have enjoyed a dominant campaign – and haven’t looked like losing once. Another victory essentially insists they’ll win the final as well, while defeat might see their momentum crash and burn.

Importantly, opener Tamim Iqbal and spinner Shakib Al Hasan are leading the charge with bat and ball, respectively. The home side need their senior statesmen to step up at the right time – and Thursday brings another chance to reinforce their authority.

Iqbal recently passed 6,000 ODI runs – and now has the most runs in the same format at a single venue. His understanding of – and experience at – the Shere Bangla National Stadium will again be vital on Thursday.

The decision to play left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam ahead of right-arm seamer Mohammad Saifuddin earlier this week worked well – and the swap will probably remain the same. This will allow a later entry into the attack for fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

Bangladesh amassed their highest score of the tri-series and restricted Sri Lanka to their lowest last week Friday. Six days later, similar conditions and head-to-head contests could yield the same.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka were hoping for a return from captain Angelo Mathews, but his recovery from a hamstring injury is taking longer than anticipated. Batsman Dinesh Chandimal, then, must continue to lead the XI.

They will be without batsman Kusal Perera, too, opening the door for all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva. He hasn’t played ODI cricket since June 2017, but a fine stretch of form at domestic and representative level all but insist he is ready for a return.

As usual, a lot will be expected of the talismanic Thisara Perera – with bat an ball. He was entirely instrumental with both in the win over Zimbabwe that all but secured Sri Lanka a berth in the final – and must build on that performance.

The Sri Lankans haven’t batted first once this tournament – and would welcome the opportunity to do so against a Bangladesh outfit that has been known to crumble under the pressure of a challenging chase.

Sri Lanka have lost only six of their 42 ODIs against Bangladesh, but four of those have come in the last 13. Three of those four occurred at Thursday’s venue. The tourists, indeed, have a shoddy away record to rectify.

Verdict: Sri Lanka 31/20
This will be a hang of a tussle, which the visitors will likely win. They’ve manufactured enough momentum at the right time – and should set a testing precedent for the final.

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