cricket
Bangladesh bat first with two changes in playing XI
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in the second ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The hosts made two changes to the playing XI of the last game. Taskin Ahmed has been overlooked to pave a way for the left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam. It’ll be marked as his first ODI.
Mosaddek Hossain also got a chance in playing XI. Mohammad Mithun, who suffered a duck in the last game, has been axed.
Shoriful played two T20Is and one test earlier and bagged two and one wickets respectively. Mosaddek, on the other hand, got into the ODI playing XI for the first time since July 2019. He represented the Tigers in 35 ODIs and scored 549 runs with two fifties.
Read:Ban v SL: Tigers eye historic series win over Lions
Bangladesh now have a good chance to win this ODI series against Sri Lanka. They have never won a series against the Lions.
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal (c), Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera(w/c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera
Ban v SL: Tigers eye historic series win over Lions
After a convincing win in the first game of the three-match series against Sri Lanka on Sunday, Bangladesh are eyeing to seal the series on Tuesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh have previously played eight series against the Lankans but failed to win any of them. But this time around, Tigers are in a good position to seal the series thanks to an inexperienced ODI side of The Lions.
It was Bangladesh’s first win after losing 10 matches across the formats. Their last victory had come in ODI against West Indies earlier this year.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was the architect of Bangladesh’s 33-run win in the series opener. He scored 84 runs after the team lost four wickets inside 100 runs. Captain Tamim Iqbal and allrounder Mahmudullah Riyad also hit a fifty each.
Tigers posted 257 runs for six after winning the toss.
Bangladesh’s off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz continued to shine as an ODI bowler and bagged four wickets while Msutafizur Rahman, the left-arm seamer, scalped three.
For Sri Lanka, number eight Wanindu Hasaranga offered a real scare for the Tigers, scoring 74 off 60 balls. Had he batted for a few overs, Bangladesh might have lost the game. He was removed by Mohammad Saifuddin.
Ahead of the second match of the series, Bangladesh are sweating over the form of Liton Das and Mohammad Mithun who suffered a duck each in the first game. Liton now has three ducks in ODIs in his last seven games while Mithun failed to reach two-digit scores five times in last 10 ODIs.
Both of them or at least one might be axed from the best XI in the next game. In that case, Soumya Sarkar might find a place in the team.
Before the series, Bangladesh’s head coach Russell Domingo hinted that he likes to continue backing Liton as he has been going through a bad time. According to Domingo, Liton is a quality player who needs support in a bad patch.
“I have a lot of faith in Liton, who I think is a quality player. He needs a bit of luck. I don’t think there’s a question mark in his ability. All players go through five or six games when they don’t do well. I think the challenge is to make sure you keep backing those players. I think a big score is just around the corner,” Domingo told the media in a pre-series press conference.
Bangladesh introduced Afif Hossain at number seven in the first game. Scoring 27 off 22 balls, he ensured that he would get more chances at that position.
Bangladesh’s probable XI in the 2nd game: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun/Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman.
Five reasons behind Bangladesh's win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI
The three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka got off to an excellent start. Bangladesh have taken a 1-0 lead in the series after defeating Sri Lanka by 33 runs in the series opener. Bangladesh will secure the series if they win the next match. Bangladesh will play with confidence in the second encounter if they can maintain the fighting attitude that they displayed in the first match. The good news is that both the senior and young players contributed significantly to this victory. This article discusses five reasons behind Bangladesh's win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI.
Five factors contributed to Bangladesh's victory over Sri Lanka
Effective partnership between Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah
Veteran cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad took charge of Bangladesh's innings after losing four wickets for 99 runs in 23 overs. They had formed a 109-run fifth-wicket partnership to cross the 200-run barrier.
Mr. dependable Mushfiqur Rahim was a far more aggressive of the two, scoring 84 runs off 87 balls. On the other hand, Mahmudullah Riyad scored 54 runs. Bangladesh's score might not have surpassed 250 if it hadn't been for this pair. So, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah's solid partnership was one of the match's turning points.
Read: What Bangladesh's World Cup 2023 squad would look like?
Miraj's superb spin bowling
Bangladeshi bowler Mehidy Hasan Miraj is presently ranked fifth in the ICC ODI bowling rankings. Miraj is proving to be a highly efficient bowler with his excellent performance in the first match. Captain Tamim Iqbal introduced off-spinner Mehidy Miraz at the start of the innings with the hope of an early breakthrough.
Miraj performed an excellent job of repaying the captain's trust in him. By sending opener Gunathilaka back to the pavilion in the fifth over Miraz got Bangladesh's first wicket. He then picked up three more wickets in the midst of the innings to completely dismantle Sri Lanka's middle order. Mehidy, who took the most four wickets for Bangladesh, was essential in the team's victory in the first match.
Saifuddin's timely breakthrough
Wanindu Hasaranga shocked the Bangladesh camp with some blazing striking at one point during the match. Hasaranga was dreaming of taking Sri Lanka home by hitting sixes against Bangladeshi bowlers. Saifuddin brought relief to Bangladesh's campaign by dismissing this fearsome lower middle-order batsman at the end of the 44th over.
Sri Lanka's score at the time was 211 while chasing 256 runs. Hasaranga made 74 runs off 60 balls before being dismissed. After breaking the eighth wicket partnership, the bowlers took the remaining two wickets within 12 runs to ensure the victory of Bangladesh.
Read: Why SL series is important for Bangladesh's 2023 World Cup Berth?
Tamim Iqbal's captaincy
Tamim Iqbal is gaining experience as the Bangladesh team's captain. We can get a sense of the kind of captain he'll be in the future. Apart from scoring 52 runs as a batsman, Tamim changed the bowlers successfully while fielding. By introducing off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the start, he managed to get a Lankan wicket.
Bangladesh's quickest bowler Taskin Ahmed teamed up with Mehidy Miraz to bowl at the beginning of the innings. Then Tamim brought Mustafiz, Shakib, and Saifuddin into the attack. Although Taskin was a bit expensive, the rest of the bowlers did well. Tamim's strategy of using three quick bowlers at the end of the innings was effective. All in all, Tamim did well in the first match of the series as captain.
Experience
The Sri Lankan ODI side is inexperienced, and it will take some time for them to gel as a team. Therefore, Bangladesh seized the opportunity in the first encounter. Sri Lanka lost multiple wickets in the midst of the innings despite chasing a respectable total in the first match.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka was unable to put more pressure on Bangladesh despite removing four batsmen within 100 runs. Sri Lanka required a couple of decent partnerships from the top order in order to win the opening match, which they failed to deliver. On the contrary, Bangladesh counter-attacked the Lankan bowlers after losing a few early wickets and took control of the innings. The Sri Lankan team will be able to rectify mistakes as their experience grows.
Read: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all set to face off in an ODI Series
Bottom Line
Five reasons behind Bangladesh's win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI must be maintained in the second match. Because it is essential for the players to deliver consistent performances in order to win the series. Besides, Bangladesh players must try to rectify the mistakes that were made so that they do not repeat again in the next encounter. Bangladesh will win the series by defeating Sri Lanka in the second match if they can perform at their best.
Playing to strengths helps Mushfiqur shine against Lankans
Mushfiqur Rahim smashed an 87-ball 84 to help the Tigers post a challenging total in the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Riding on his bat, Bangladesh posted 257 for six after winning the toss and won the match by 33 runs.
"I stuck to my strengths and took my time. I had to keep one end safe and that's what I did. The finishing touch from Riyad and Afif was superb," Mushfiqur said after the game.
"It wasn't an easy wicket to bat on. As Shakib and Liton got out early, there was pressure. Tamim batted well and he allowed me to take my time. And then Riyad was superb. These conditions aren't ideal to play; it's not just hot, the humidity takes a lot out of you but the credit goes to our players," he added.
Mushfiqur scored 84, Tamim 52 and Mahmuduallah 54, helping the Tigers overcome the initial batting damage. And Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged four wickets and Mustafizur Rahman took three to confine the Lankans within 224 runs and seal the game.
This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event will directly qualify for the World Cup 2023.
Bangladesh have already played six matches of this event and won three. Sri Lanka played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all.
The remaining games of the ODI series will be played on May 25 and 28 at the same venue.
Tigers beat Lions despite Hasaranga scare
Bangladesh won the first match of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka by 33 runs, defying a strong resistance from Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The Tigers won the toss and posted 257 runs for six after choosing to bat first. In reply, Sri Lanka started well as Danushka Gunathilaka and captain Kusal Perera added 30 runs in the first wicket stand. Just when they started building a solid foundation, Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck.
Mehidy, the number five bowler in the ICC ODI ranking, took four wickets conceding 30 runs in 10 overs.
Sri Lanka showed some resistance in the sixth and seventh-wicket stands, posting 47 and 62 runs.
However, Hasaranga posed the strongest challenge to the Tigers, scoring 74 off 60 balls with six sixes and three fours. The right-handed batsman was guiding the Lankans to a victory which seemed unlikely before he took the field.
Hasaranga finally fell prey to Mohammad Saifuddin when Sri Lanka needed 47 runs to win in six overs. The Lankans eventually managed to score 224 for 10 in 48.1 overs.
Saifuddin took two wickets while Shakib Al Hasan bagged one and it was his 1000th wicket in the recognised cricket.
Earlier, despite losing four wickets for 99 runs, Bangladesh posted 257 runs for six wickets in 50 overs in the first innings after choosing to bat first.
Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest run-getter in this game who scored 84 off 87 balls with four fours and one six. Tamim Iqbal hit 52 while Mahmudullah Riyad posted 54 to help the Tigers post a challenging total.
In the fifth wicket stand, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah added 109 runs off 122 balls – the highest partnership in Bangladesh's innings.
After 40 overs, Bangladesh were batting at 193 for four. They needed to come up with some big shots in the last 10 overs, but the dismissals of Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah made it difficult for the hosts.
In the sixth and seventh-wicket stands, Bangladesh added 22 and 27. In the end, Afif Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten for 27 and 13 off 22 and 9 balls. Both Liton Das and Mohammad Mithun got dismissed for a duck in this game.
For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva was outstanding with the ball. He bagged three wickets with two-in-two conceding 47 runs. Dushmantha Chameera, Danushka Gunathilaka and Lakshan Sandakan took a wicket each.
This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. Bangladesh have already played six matches of this event and won three. The top seven teams of this event will directly qualify for the World Cup 2023.
Sri Lanka played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all.
The remaining matches of the series will take place on May 25 and 28 at the same venue.
What Bangladesh's World Cup 2023 squad would look like?
Cricket fans had high expectations towards Bangladesh's 2019 World Cup team, led by Mashrafe Mortaza. But Bangladesh had to settle for eighth place after only managing seven points in nine games. The Bangladesh team was disappointed and returned home from England empty-handed. Ten cricketers from Bangladesh's WC'19 squad will be over 30 before the next World Cup. Therefore, some cricketers will be unable to participate in the forthcoming World Cup. Mashrafe Mortaza is almost likely to miss the next World Cup as BCB is searching for his replacement. What Bangladesh's World Cup 2023 squad would look like is discussed in this article.
How many aged players from the 2019 World Cup will take part in the next WC?
The 2023 World Cup will be held in India during the October-November window, so let's see how many players of the 2019 World Cup squad will be available in two years.
Ten players from Bangladesh's previous World Cup squad will be 30 years old or older before the next World Cup.
Read: Why SL series is important for Bangladesh's 2023 World Cup Berth?
Mashrafe Mortaza will turn 40 in October 2023. Mahmudullah Riyad will be 37. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim will be 36. Bangladesh’s current ODI captain Tamim Iqbal will turn 34. Mohammad Mithun (33), Rubel Hossain (33), Sabbir Rahman (32), Soumya Sarkar (30), and Abu Jayed Rahi (30) all will be over 30 before the start of the 2023 World Cup.
Mashrafe Mortaza played his last World Cup in 2019 and BCB’S selectors are trying to find a suitable replacement for him. The process has already started, with a host of young and talented cricketers earning regular opportunities in international series.
Among others, Tamim, Shakib, Mushfiqur, and Mahmudullah, will certainly participate in the next World Cup. It's unlikely that Abu Zayed Rahi and Sabbir Rahman will play in the next World Cup. However, Mohammad Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, and Rubel Hossain may play in the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India.
Which other cricketers are the most likely to make the squad?
There are a number of talented cricketers among the youngsters. All of them have already caught the attention of selectors. Afif Hossain, Mohammad Naeem, Hasan Mahmud, Shariful Islam, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Mahadi Hasan are among these cricketers. Several more cricketers are predicted to come from the pipeline in the next two years.
Read: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all set to face off in an ODI Series
Mustafizur Rahman, Liton Das, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraj, and Mosaddek Hossain are all expected to participate in the 2023 World Cup, they all took part in the 2019 World Cup. These players are regularly participating and perform for the national team.
Taskin Ahmed, who missed the 2019 World Cup due to injury, has made a strong comeback to the national team following a two-year absence. Taskin would play in the next World Cup if he can maintain his fitness.
Overall, a strong Bangladesh team can be formed with a combination of youth and experience before the next World Cup. The team would certainly compete for the World Cup trophy.
Bottom Line
We got some idea of what Bangladesh's World Cup 2023 squad would look like in the above discussion. The World Cup in 2023 will begin in two years. During this time, Bangladesh will play a significant number of international series. BCB selectors should strive to put together the best squad possible, giving young and inexperienced cricketers more chances. Bangladesh always play well in the ODI format. Bangladesh have a good chance to surprise the cricketing world since the next World Cup will be held in familiar Indian weather.
Read: Babar, Boult, and Shakib Lead ICC ODI Player Rankings in May 2021
Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah propel Tigers to 257
Despite losing four early wickets Bangladesh posted 257-6 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka thanks to a solid 109-run partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah on Sunday.
Bangladesh lost four wickets below 100 runs after they won the toss and opted to bat first at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Mushfifqur hit 84 off 87 balls, the top scorer for the hosts. He hit four boundaries and one six.
Tamim Iqbal hit 52 while Mahmudullah Riyad posted 54 to help the Tigers post a challenging total.
In the fifth wicket stand, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah added 109 runs off 122 balls. It was the highest partnership in Bangladesh’s innings.
After 40 overs, Bangladesh were batting on 193 for four. They needed to come up with some big shots in the last 10 overs, but the dismissals of Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah made it difficult for the hosts.
In the sixth and seventh-wicket stand, Bangladesh added 22 and 27 respectively.
Afif Hossain hit an unbeaten 27 off 22 and Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten on 13 off 9 balls.
Liton Das and Mohammad Mithun were dismissed on a duck.
For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva was outstanding with the ball. He bagged three wickets with two-in-two conceding 47 runs. Dushmantha Chameera, Danushka Gunathilaka and Lakshan Sandakan took a wicket each.
The three-match series is a part of the World Cup Super League. Bangladesh have already played six matches of this event and won three of them. The top seven teams of this event will get a direct qualification to the World Cup 2023.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all.
With this series, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are back to the Bangladesh side after missing out on the Sri Lanka tour for a two-match Test series.
The remaining matches will take place on May 25 and 28 respectively at the same venue.
Why SL series is important for Bangladesh's 2023 World Cup Berth?
The bilateral series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka cannot be taken lightly since this ODI series will have a direct effect on the ICC ODI Super League points table. Every match in this series carries equal importance. Bangladesh would be in a strong position in the ICC ODI Super League if the series is won 3-0. Even after winning the contest, Bangladeshi players would have to play more energetically in order to complete the series with a total of 30 points. The significance of Sri Lanka series for Bangladesh's 2023 World Cup Berth is discussed in this article.
Importance of the Sri Lanka series for Bangladesh
Apart from the ICC One-Day International Super League, the Sri Lanka series is crucial for Bangladesh for a number of reasons, this includes the following: Tamim Iqbal should use the series to further his development as a captain and to assess the team's strength in order to build a strong squad for the next World Cup. The result of the series could help improve Bangladesh's position in the One-Day International format, and will give them a genuine chance to win an ODI series against Sri Lanka for the first time. The series will also be a litmus test for Coach Russell Domingo, who is currently dealing with a lot of pressure.
Bangladesh will have the opportunity to overtake each team in the ICC ODI CWC Super League points table and take the no.1 position. Team tigers' will be the CWC Super League's topside for the first time if they simply win the contest against the Lankans. Bangladesh can also close the gap with sixth-ranked Pakistan in the ICC One-Day International team rankings.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will enter into the CWC Super League points table if they win a match against Bangladesh. The Lankan national side will also narrow the gap with seventh-place Bangladesh in the ICC One-Day International team rankings.
Read: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all set to face off in an ODI Series
Required points for Bangladesh ensure 2023 World Cup
Each competing team will play a total of 8 series, both at home and abroad, with every series consisting of three matches. As a result, each team will play a total of 24 matches, giving them the opportunity to win a total of 240 points.
Apart from host India, the top eight teams in the league will be guaranteed a place in the World Cup 2023. Many believe that if a team gets at least 150 points, they can easily make the top eight, but some believe that each team would require 170 points to qualify for the World Cup directly. If Bangladesh win the series 3-0 against Sri Lanka, they will have 60 points.
In other words, Bangladesh will be guaranteed a place in the 2023 World Cup if they win 9/10 of the 15 matches in the next five series. Bangladesh have six scheduled matches against England and South Africa in the remaining ODI Super League series.
On the other hand, nine matches will be played against Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. The schedule indicates the significance of the series against Sri Lanka for Bangladesh.
Read: Babar, Boult, and Shakib Lead ICC ODI Player Rankings in May 2021
Top 8 teams of ICC ODI CWC Super League (as of May 22)
Position
Team
Pld
W
L
Pts
1
England
9
4
5
40
2
Pakistan
6
4
2
40
3
Australia
6
4
2
40
4
New Zealand
3
3
0
30
5
Afghanistan
3
3
0
30
6
Bangladesh
6
3
3
30
7
West Indies
6
3
3
30
8
India
6
3
3
29
Bottom Line
The Sri Lanka series is important in order to build a strong position in the ICC ODI Super League for Bangladesh's 2023 World Cup Berth. Furthermore, winning this series would propel Bangladesh to the top of the ICC One-Day International Super League for the first time, which would be an amazing achievement. So, this contest between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is crucially significant.
Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Five Memorable Match-Winning ODI Performances
Quick wickets put Bangladesh under pressure
In the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh lost four wickets within 100 runs with two wickets in consecutive two deliveries off Dhananjaya de Silva.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first with Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman made a comeback to the national fold after missing out on the two-match Test series against the same opponent.
Liton Das was the first batsman to get dismissed in the second over of the game for a duck. Dushmantha Chameera delivered a full-length ball outside off, and Liton tried to drive to the cover without any foot movement. He just prodded the ball of the slip cordon.
Read: Bangladesh bat first in series opener vs Sri Lanka
Shakib, who returned after missing out on two tours to New Zealand and Sri Lanka, fell for 15 to Danushka Gunathilaka. He came out down the wicket and mistimed a slower off the bowler. Shakib never looked comfortable in the middle in his 34-ball stay.
During the 23rd over, Dhananjaya removed Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Mithun off two consecutive deliveries. Tamim moved from his regular stance and came back before the ball was delivered, which has hit his boot and he was given lbw. In the next ball, Mithun tried a lap sweep off the first ball in the wicket and missed. He was also given lbw.
Tamim fell for 52, and along the way, he completed 14 thousand international runs as the first Bangladeshi batsman. He now amassed 14025 runs in 356 matches across the formats.
Bangladesh bat first in series opener vs Sri Lanka
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal won the toss and opted to bat first in the three-match ODI series opener against Sri Lanka on Sunday at Mirpur.
Hours before the match takes the field, the Sri Lanka squad went through a Covid-19 scare. Three members of the Lankan squad tested positive for Covid-19 including two cricketers but the latest PCR test revealed only one of them is positive.
Read:Sri Lankan player Shiran Fernando tests positive for Covid-19 in latest test
This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. Bangladesh has already played six matches of this event and won three of them. The top seven teams of this event will get a direct qualification to the World Cup 2023.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all.
With this series, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are back to the Bangladesh side after missing out on the Sri Lanka tour for a two-match Test series.
The remaining matches will take place on May 25 and 28 respectively at the same venue.
Read:Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all set to face off in an ODI Series
Bangladesh playing XI: Tamim Iqbal (c), Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Mohammad Mithun, Mhamudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman
Sri Lanka playing XI: Kusal Perera(w/c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera