The Super Four round of Asia Cup 2023 started with the Bangladesh vs Pakistan match on September 6. Bangladesh will also play the second match of the Super Four. This time, the Tigers will face Sri Lanka on September 9, 2023. The Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match will take place at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time. Let’s see what to expect from this match.
BAN vs SL ODI 2023 Match Preview
After the big win against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup group stage, Bangladesh faced defeat against Pakistan on September 6. With poor batting, Bangladesh set Pakistan a target of 194 runs. In reply, Pakistan, one of the hosts of the tournament, easily reached the target by losing 3 wickets in 39.3 overs. Pakistan won the match by 7 wickets.
After winning the toss at Lahore, the Tigers batted first but were all out for 193 runs. The initial wickets loss was responsible for the collapse. Pakistan's bowling has smacked four wickets for 47 runs. After that, Shakib-Mushfiqur Rahim made a pair, and they also turned around. Bangladesh's innings did not last long after Shakib's dismissal for the team’s 147 runs.
Now Bangladesh is looking forward to the next match against Sri Lanka. However, Bangladesh lost a match in the group stage against Sri Lanka. So, Bangladesh will surely be looking for a comeback. While the Bangladesh team was shaky in the opening section, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s injury changed the whole momentum of the team.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has been at a good pace as they have won both matches in the group stage. However, they faced a challenge winning against the Afghans in their last match. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 291 runs for 8 wickets. Sri Lankan batsmen were in an aggressive mood from the start. The two openers, Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne, started very well. They scored 41 and 32 runs, respectively. However, Kusal Mendis, who started at number three, put Sri Lanka's innings on a solid foundation. He played an innings of 92 runs off 84 balls. Finished his innings with six fours and three sixes. Charith Asalanka (36), Maheesh Theekshana (28), and Dunith Wellalage (33 not out) helped Sri Lanka put up a fighting run.
So, after this performance, it can be said that the Lankan batting lineup will surely put pressure on Bangladeshi bowlers. On top of that, Sri Lanka does not have any injury updates. Hence, they will start with the regular squad against the Tigers.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
Probable Playing XI for Bangladesh
Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Hasan Mahmud.
Probable Playing XI for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, and Matheesha Pathirana.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: ODI Head to Head Records So Far
Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka currently hold prominent positions in the world of one-day international cricket. Nevertheless, in their encounters with each other, Sri Lanka has consistently displayed greater strength and dominance. Sri Lanka has maintained a firm grip over Bangladesh, emerging victorious in 41 out of the 52 matches played between the two teams. Although Bangladesh has demonstrated signs of progress in recent times, they have managed to secure victory in only 9 of these encounters against Sri Lanka. Two matches had no results on March 25, 2023, and March 28, 2017.
Bangladeshi Players to Watch
Shakib Al Hasan
Although Shakib could not perform well in the previous match against Sir Lanka, he contributed well in the Super Four match against Pakistan. Shakib scored only 5 runs from 11 balls against Sri Lanka in the group stage and took 2 wickets at a 2.9 economy rate. Against Pakistan, he scored 53 from 57 balls and bowled 5.3 overs but could not take any wickets. So, it seems Shakib is coming back to momentum, and we expect him to give his best against Sri Lanka.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfique is tactically the best footwork dependent batsman in Bangladesh. Arguably, he is the best batsman in the last 5-6 years. He has the ability to handle all types of swing and score runs. In the last match against Pakistan, he scored 64 runs from 87 balls, and before that, he scored 25 runs from 15 balls against the Afghans. On top of that, his wicket keeping skills also helped Bangladesh in different situations. So, it is evident that Mushfiqur will surely continue his performance in the next match.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-up Schedule: Full fixture list, match timings and venues
Key Sri Lankan Players to Watch
Matheesha Pathirana
The right-arm first bowler destroyed Bangladesh’s innings in the first group stage match as he took four wickets, including Shakib and Mushfique’s wicket. He also took one wicket in the next match against the Afghans. So, he might emerge as dangerous against Bangladesh again.
Charith Asalanka
He has been pretty consistent in this Asia Cup, as he scored 62 against Bangladesh and 36 against the Afghans. So, fans will have an eye on him with an expectation. Overall, he played 37 ODI matches for Sri Lanka and scored 1191 runs in total, with 110 highest score. Hence, we are expecting that Asalanka will have an impact on the next match in Sri Lanka’s middle order.
Final Word
Sri Lanka clearly has a competitive edge in the next Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage match. On top of that, Sri Lanka will play in their home ground, which will be a great confidence boost for them. Bangladesh played Sri Lanka after two years on August 31, and the Lankans showed their strength. Considering the Bangladesh team’s current situation and form in the Asia Cup, winning against the Lankans will be difficult for the Tigers.