Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

'Hot-and-cold' Bangladesh seek consistency as Sri Lanka chase milestone win

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Friday, 08 September 2023 02:06

Big picture - Sri Lanka in sight of 13th successive win

Sri Lanka are one win away from ODI eminence. If they beat Bangladesh in their Asia Cup Super Four game on Saturday, they will become the team with the second-longest winning streak in the format. Only the Australians of 2003 achieved a longer streak (21), while Sri Lanka are currently tied with Pakistan (12 wins in 2007-08) and South Africa (12 wins in 2005, and again in 2016-17).
As is bound to be the case in such situations, Sri Lanka have found the fight in tricky situations. And, despite all the talk about Afghanistan's valiant fight in their group-stage game, Sri Lanka were more aware of the game situation, and the playing conditions, and that proved to be clincher.
That awareness is something that sometimes goes AWOL with Bangladesh. They were outplayed by Sri Lanka following a lacklustre effort early on in the tournament. They bounced back to beat Afghanistan so impressively that they didn't have to worry about net run rate for qualification to the Super Four stage. But then Pakistan totally outplayed them on Wednesday.
Shakib Al Hasan called the batting "hot and cold", which is a cause for concern. As is the lack of awareness. Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim rebuilt Bangladesh's batting from 47 for 4, but got out to poor shots. What should also worry Bangladesh is the speed with which their lower order collapsed, not for the first time.
Sri Lanka don't have these worries at the moment. Dimuth Karunaratne is having his best ODI year with 514 runs at an average of 51.40, but what has really helped the team is his strong opening combination with Pathum Nissanka. They have totalled 812 runs together since June, in 11 innings.

Bangladesh need a hot day here; they have had one, but have also had two cold days. And being the team to stop Sri Lanka's run will be a huge boost.

Bangladesh LWLWL(last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Sri Lanka WWWWW

In the spotlight - Dasun Shanaka and Mushfiqur Rahim

Dasun Shanaka is going through a strange 2023. While leading Sri Lanka to 12 wins in a row, he has averaged 7.71 in eight innings. Granted he bats down the order, but in the six months before the winning run started, Shanaka's 169 runs at 33.80 was actually Sri Lanka's second-best in that period behind Pathum Nissanka.

Mushfiqur Rahim's strong form in 2023 is a bounce back after an under-par average of 23 last year. He apparently almost lost his place in the team but a move to No. 6 has helped, as he has taken on the finisher's role. Mushfiqur has averaged 57.25 in scoring 458 runs in his last ten innings, including Bangladesh's fastest ODI century.

Bangladesh may not change their personnel, but are likely to shuffle their batting line-up, starting with Litton Das moving to open with Mohammad Naim. Mehidy Hasan Miraz could be sent to No. 8 to give the other specialist batters more time and responsibility.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mohammad Naim, 2 Litton Das, 3 Afif Hossain, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Shamim Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Hasan Mahmud

Sri Lanka will be expected to continue with the same XI that beat Afghanistan in their last group game. They have Kusal Perera, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando and Pramod Madushan on the bench.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Matheesha Pathirana

The R Premadasa Stadium usually has slower and lower pitches than Pallekele. But in the last five years, the 267 at Premadasa is a higher average first-innings score in day-night ODIs than Pallekele's 255. The forecast, worryingly, suggests that there is more than a 68% chance of rain through the day (at the time of writing this).

Read 113 times

Soccer

Arsenal fan banned 3 years for online Partey abuse

Arsenal fan banned 3 years for online Partey abuse

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA fan who racially abused Arsenal player Thomas Partey in a social...

Mascherano appointed as new Inter Miami coach

Mascherano appointed as new Inter Miami coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsInter Miami confirmed the appointment of former Liverpool, Barcelon...

Pulisic, Abraham earn Milan 3rd-straight UCL win

Pulisic, Abraham earn Milan 3rd-straight UCL win

AC Milan earned their third successive Champions League win with a 3-2 victory at Slovan Bratislava...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Kings coach Brown fined $35K for pursuing ref

Kings coach Brown fined $35K for pursuing ref

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSacramento Kings coach Mike Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA on T...

Sixers' Emibiid, George out for Wed. vs. Rockets

Sixers' Emibiid, George out for Wed. vs. Rockets

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Philadelphia 76ers said Tuesday that Joel Embiid, Paul George a...

Baseball

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJeff Hoffman is one of the most sought-after relievers in this offs...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated