Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
Preview of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ODI in Asia Cup 2023
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.
Read more: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming Asia Cup 2023: Where and How to watch live streaming, Probable Playing 11
Asia Cup 2023: Preview of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI
The 2023 Asia Cup is in full swing, and now it’s time for the Group B matches to begin. Two strong teams from South Asia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, are getting ready to face each other. The Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match will take place on August 31 at 3:30 pm at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. While the Bangladesh team is aiming to win their first-ever Asia Cup, the Sri Lankan side is the second most successful team after India. However, Bangladesh have good records against Sri Lanka in recent matches. Let’s see more in this BAN vs SL 1st ODI Asia Cup 2023 match preview.
Preview of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 ODI
Banglades selected a team of 17 players two weeks ago. Among them, five players – Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib – were part of the Under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2020. Ebadot Hossain was initially included in the squad, but he won’t be able to play due to a lingering injury. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old fast bowler had to withdraw from the tournament. On the other hand, experienced all-rounder Mahmudullah, despite taking part in the preliminary fitness camp, has once again not been included in the Bangladesh team.
Litton Das was supposed to go to Sri Lanka later as he was suffering from viral fever. But he was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 as he is not fit yet and has no chance to play in any of the matches. Hence, the Bangladesh Cricket Board needed to do a swift reshuffle in the Bangladesh squad. Anamul Haque Bijoy has been included in the team as Litton’s replacement. With a wealth of experience under his belt, Anamul has participated in 44 ODIs, amassing a total of 1254 runs, which includes three centuries. His most recent appearance in a Bangladesh ODI was in December 2022 when he took on India on the cricket field.
The Sri Lankan team had to make changes to their original Asia Cup squad because of injuries to Dilshan Madhushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Lahiru Kumara. This is a major setback for Sri Lanka’s bowling team because these four players are really important for the head coach Chris Silverwood’s plans and strategies to win. The team is currently facing fitness issues with these players, and that’s why they haven’t yet chosen new players to replace them or officially declared the final squad.
Read more: Prospects of Bangladesh in 2023 Asia Cup ODI Tournament
Bangladesh’s Probable XI
Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman.
Sri Lanka’s Probable XI
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana and Kasun Rajitha.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023 Fixtures: Team List, Schedule, and Venues
Recent Performance of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
After winning 2-0 in a series against Ireland on foreign soil, the Bangladesh cricket team came back home in June 2023 to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. However, things didn’t go well for the Tigers in this series. They faced a painful defeat on their home ground, losing both of the first matches. Bangladesh’s previous Asia Cup journey was also disappointing. In the last tournament, they couldn’t even win a single match in the group stage, which led to their elimination.
In contrast, Sri Lanka had a really good time in the 2022 Asia Cup. They did very well and became the champions of this important tournament for the first time since 2014. The Sri Lankan team’s most recent 50-over match was in July 2023, when they went to Zimbabwe to take part in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. They won this qualification title convincingly by beating the Netherlands by 128 runs, and they were unbeatable throughout the tournament.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Head to Head Records So Far
Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are seen as top teams in one-day international cricket these days. However, when they have played against each other, Sri Lanka were usually much stronger. Sri Lanka have been clearly in control against Bangladesh, winning 40 times. While Bangladesh have shown improvement in recent times, they have won only 10 out of the 51 matches they have played against Sri Lanka.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Six Players in Bangladesh ODI Squad to Watch
Key Players of BAN vs SL 1st ODI Match in the 2023 Asia Cup
Shakib Al Hasan
The Bangladesh team still depends a lot on this experienced all-rounder because of his remarkable skills. Despite being 36 years old, he was among the top 5 players for both runs scored and wickets taken in the series against Afghanistan. He was the only Bangladeshi bowler who managed to take at least one wicket in all three matches.
The Bangladesh team has many young players, especially in the batting lineup. So, it’s going to be crucial for the captain to bring stability to the team’s performance in the middle of the game. And Shakib is fully capable of that.
Maheesh Theekshana
With the star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga not available, the responsibility of leading Sri Lanka’s spin attack will fall on the shoulders of this 23-year-old off-break bowler.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Analysis of Bangladesh ODI Squad
Theekshana had a fantastic performance in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. He took 21 wickets in just 8 matches, making him the second-most successful bowler in the tournament. His average was really low at 12.19 runs per wicket. He even achieved a hat-trick of 4-wicket hauls in the final match against the Netherlands. He had previously accomplished this against Zimbabwe and West Indies as well.
Who Will Win?
Sri Lanka’s challenge in putting together their best bowling lineup could give Bangladesh’s batting team a chance to go on the offensive. But even with this, Sri Lanka is in a good position with a higher chance of winning. They have the advantage of being in good form and playing on their home ground.
Final Words
Sri Lanka are the current champion of the Asia Cup. Lately, Sri Lanka have been doing really well in ODI cricket. They performed incredibly well in the ICC Men’s World Cup Qualifiers, where they didn’t lose any matches and ended up winning the tournament. Because of this, the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match will be highly competitive, as the Bangladesh team is also in good form. Although Bangladesh came from a 2-1 loss against Afghanistan, the Tigers seem to be confident before leaving for Asia Cup 2023.
Read more: Predictions: Who will win Asia Cup 2023?
Women’s Asia Cup: Bangladesh endure shocking defeat to Sri Lanka
Bangladesh needed to score 41 runs in seven overs after a long delay due to rain. Still, the hosts failed to do that, and Sri Lanka registered an incredible win in the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup in Sylhet today.
Sri Lanka batted first and they were at 83 for five when the rain started. Bangladesh’s new target 41 was set by the DL Method.
Bangladesh started well despite losing quick wickets. Murshida Khatun scored only one while her opening partner scored 5.
Read: ‘We need to improve’, Shakib says after another batting disaster
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana was hanging on in the middle but she couldn't avoid a defeat.
In the last two overs, Bangladesh needed 12 runs. In the sixth over, Inoka Ranaweera scalped three wickets and a run-out was there too. Suddenly, Bangladesh’s target stood at 11 in the last over which was never achieved as the hosts tumbled to 37 for seven in seven overs.
Bangladesh lost the match by three runs. It was Bangladesh’s third defeat in five matches so far. They will take on the UAE in their last match in the first phase.
India have confirmed a place in the semifinals with five wins in six matches in the first phase while Pakistan and Sri Lanka have also booked a place each in the semifinals. If Bangladesh can beat the UAE in their last match, they will also qualify for the semis.
Asia Cup 2022 Group B Preview: Can Bangladesh Reach Super 4 Round?
The Asia Cup cricket 2022 will begin with the group phase contest. Six teams will be divided into two groups, each containing three. India, Pakistan and the winner of the qualifier will play in Group A. On the other hand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will play in Group B, which is considered the group of death. The Asia Cup 2022 Group B preview is discussed in this article.
Asia Cup Cricket 2022: Group B Preview
Finishing in the top two in the Group B points table will be a real challenge as all are well capable of advancing to the Super Four phase. A fiercely contested battle is expected in all three matches in this group. Let’s take a closer look at each squad in this group.
Bangladesh
The Bangladesh cricket team’s recent T20 performances have been unimpressive. Their two T20I victories this year have come against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, respectively. They even failed to win a series against the Zimbabwean team a few weeks ago.
Read Asia Cup Cricket: India holds historical edge over Pakistan
So, the Bangladesh team is not heading to the Asia Cup with their best of form. Appointing Shakib Al Hasan as captain and hiring Sridharan Sriram as technical consultant are two good decisions the BCB made prior to the tournament. However, as per recent form, Bangladesh will not start as the favourite to finish in the top two in Group B.
Strengths
Having Shakib Al Hasan as captain could be Bangladesh’s main strength in the tournament. The Shakib-led Bangladesh team is expected to be rejuvenated during the main event. His decision-making ability, game awareness and leadership qualities are compared to none at the moment in Bangladesh. Besides, spinners can play a vital role in the middle overs to check the run flow of the opposition.
Weaknesses
The Bangladesh team has two major weaknesses in the T20 format of cricket. The team doesn’t have an established opening pair, and there is no proper power hitter for the death overs. It remains to be seen how they will address the deficiencies during the Asia Cup. Multiple sources have claimed that Shakib wants Mushfiqur Rahim to open the innings. The selectors recalled Sabbir Rahman to play the power hitting role in the middle order.
Read Asia Cup 2022: 12 Key Players to Watch in the Tournament
T20 Records against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan
Bangladesh have a poor T20 record against both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The team Tigers has won only four matches and lost eight against Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Bangladesh have three victories and five losses against Afghanistan.
Predicted Playing XI:
Top-Order: Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket-keeper), Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan (captain);
Middle-Order: Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddeck Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin;
Lower-Order: Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have played eleven Twenty20 matches this year, eight against Australia and three against India. They have won two matches and both came against Australia. So, playing against tough opposition will boost Sri Lanka’s confidence ahead of the group stage clashes. The Lankan side will start as favourites to finish top in Group B.
Read Shakib Al Hasan: Expectations from Bangladesh’s T20 captain in Asia Cup 2022
Strengths
Over the last one year, the cricket world has witnessed some seriously talented T20 format cricketers from Sri Lanka. They have some individual match-winners, which is their biggest strength. Among them, all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga will top the list. Besides, Dushmantha Chameera, Pathum Nissanka, and hard-hitter Dasun Shanaka are some of Sri Lanka’s top performers in recent series.
Weaknesses
Most of the Lankan players don’t have enough international experience. Besides, constructing a match-winning playing XI could be a major concern for them.
T20 Records against Afghanistan and Bangladesh
Sri Lanka have won eight matches against Bangladesh and lost four. On the other hand, Sri Lanka won the only T20 game they played against Afghanistan in 2016.
Predicted Playing XI
Top-Order: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka,
Middle-Order: Bhanuka Rajapaksa (wicket-keeper), Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne,
Lower-Order: Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Afghanistan
Afghanistan have won the majority of their T20 matches this year. However, all of their fixtures were against weaker opponents. They have some T20 specialist players who have the ability to change the scenario of a match on their own. Afghanistan will start as the second favourite to qualify for the Super Four round from this group.
Strengths
Afghanistan have some of the best T20 format spinners in their squad. Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Rashid Khan are all world-class bowlers. Besides, their captain, Nabi, is the current world No. 1 all-rounder. He would probably be the most vital player for the Afghan side. They have some quality power hitters as well, and one of them is Hazratullah Zazai.
Weaknesses
The Afghanistan team sometimes tends to lose grip whenever they face any tough opposition. The Afghan players have to develop patience and a steady approach to have a solid performance against stronger opponents.
T20 Records against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
Afghanistan have won five matches against Bangladesh and lost three. On the other hand, Afghanistan lost the only T20 match they played against Sri Lanka in 2016.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
Predicted Playing XI
Top-Order: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ibrahim Zadran,
Middle-Order: Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan,
Lower-Order: Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Asia Cup 2022: Full Fixtures of Group B
The Asia Cup of Cricket 2022 will kick off with the Group B match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Here are the fixtures for Group B.
Date: 27 August | Match: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan | Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Date: 30 August | Match: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Date: 1 September | Match: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Verdict
According to the Asia Cup 2022 Group B preview, Bangladesh will not begin the match as the favourites to advance to the next round. However, if the Shakib Al Hasan-led Tigers T20 team can reach their full potential during the competition, they have the ability to shock everyone.
The favourites in this group, the Sri Lankan campaign is in full confidence, especially following a strong performance in their most recent T20 series against Australia. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has a reputation for being a deadly T20 team and is innately confident in their ability to defeat anyone. Bangladesh must thus work hard to defeat these two confident teams to secure a spot in the Super Four.
Read ICC CWC Super League: WI, SL, SA could miss out on direct qualification
Dhaka Test: Bangladesh end first innings on 365
Bangladesh ended their first innings of the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka with 365 runs on the score board on Tuesday, riding on the tons by Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das, despite a disastrous start.
The centurions started the day aiming to add as many runs as possible to the board on day two. But Liton fell early in the eighth over of the day.
Read: Day 2 of Dhaka Test: Liton, Mosaddek depart early
Kasun Rajitha removed Liton for 141, his best in the format, and in the same over, he dismissed Mosaddek Hossain Saikat as well who got the chance in the playing XI in the absence of an injured Nayeem Hasan.
Mushfiqur smashes another ton vs Sri Lanka
Mushfiqur Rahim, one of the mainstays of the Bangladesh batting line, smashed another ton in the ongoing two-match series against Sri Lanka on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Read: Liton hits ton to guide Tigers
Mushfiqur completed his third ton against Sri Lanka off 218 balls, punching Ramesh Mendis to the backward point for a single. After reaching the ton, the batter jumped, threw a punch to the air, performed a sajda and hugged his partner Liton Das, who also hit a ton in the same partnership, before showing the bat to the spectators.
BAN vs SL Second Test 2022: Bangladesh Target Historic Series Win
The Sher-e-Bangla cricket stadium will host the second match of the ongoing Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test series. After the first match ended in a draw, the BAN vs SL 2nd Test 2022 is expected to be a tense affair. The series will be determined by the outcome of the Mirpur match. Bangladesh have never won a Test series against Sri Lanka at home, therefore this will be a golden opportunity for them. Let's take a look at the second Test match preview.
2022 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Second Test: Match Preview
The series' second match will be played at the SBNCS in Dhaka, with a 10 a.m. start time (Bangladesh Start Time). The Mirpur stadium is known for its sluggish pitch, which helps spinners from the start, especially in the longer version of cricket. One can imagine how difficult a pitch may become for batters on days 4 to 5.
This pitch has seen some memorable encounters, with two of Bangladesh's biggest Test triumphs happening here. This ground has also seen most of Bangladesh's Test triumphs. As a result, the Bangladesh team should be optimistic heading into the BAN vs SL second Test 2022.
Read Mushfiqur to skip West Indies series to perform hajj
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's top three Test run scorers, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, and Shakib Al Hasan are the only players to have scored over 1,000 Test runs at this venue. These players know how to score big on Mirpur's surfaces, and the good news is that they will all be available for the second Test.
Top five most Test run scorers at SBNCS, Mirpur
Player
Innings
Runs
HS
Ave
100s
Shakib Al Hasan
33
1409
144
45.45
1
Mushfiqur Rahim
37
1302
219*
40.68
2
Tamim Iqbal
33
1260
151
38.18
2
Mominul Haque
21
883
161
44.15
3
Mahmudullah Riyad
20
796
136
44.22
2
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Sri Lanka hold firm to end Chattogram Test in a draw
Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam will have to shoulder the most of the burden in bowling, as both off-spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan will be unavailable due to injury. The good news is that Shakib and Taijul are two of the most prolific wicket-takers at this arena, and they may be a nightmare for the Lankans. Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed will have to demonstrate some talent and consistency with the ball because Shoriful Islam will not be playing.
Top five most Test wicket-takers at SBNCS, Mirpur
Player
Innings
Wickets
BBI
Ave
5W
Shakib Al Hasan
30
63
6/59
32.03
7
Taijul Islam
19
54
8/39
23.59
2
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
13
41
7/58
17.92
5
Zaheer Khan
4
17
7/87
13.94
2
Shahadat Hossain
16
16
6/27
50.12
1
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read BAN vs SL First Test 2022: Four key Takeaways for Bangladesh
Predicted playing XI
Top Order: Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Middle-Orders: Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (Wicket-Keeper), Mosaddek Hossain, Lower-Order: Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain
Sri Lanka
The experienced Angelo Mathews produced a superb knock in the first Test. His 199-run innings aided Sri Lanka's first-innings total. On the other hand, Dinesh Chandimal had a strong showing in the first Test, playing two crucial knocks in the match. These two players, as well as captain Dimuth Karunaratne, will be crucial for Sri Lanka's batting order. The Lankan team will be hoping for responsible batting in their second innings, which could be difficult on Mirpur's surface.
The Pacers Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando did well with the ball in the first Test. Kasun claimed four wickets, while Asitha captured three. The management of the Sri Lankan team will be expecting another strong performance from them in the series decider. On the other hand, spinners had a difficult time in the opening match at Chattogram. They were all cost-effective, but they didn't obtain enough wickets. Perhaps Bangladesh batters were wary of them. Though, these three spinners may be lethal on SBNCS wicket. Their performance will be crucial to the Sri Lankan campaign.
Read IPL 2022: Who will make the playoffs from Delhi and Bangalore?
Predicted Playing XI
Top Order: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Middle-Orders: Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Lower-Order: Asitha Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya, Vishwa Fernando
Pitch Report and Weather Forecast
According to weather reports, rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the first two days of the match. On the other hand, the following three days are expected to be bright and suitable for cricket matches. The SBNCS, Mirpur, is great for spinners, particularly in the latter two days. Therefore, there will be a lot of spin bowling during the contest. The toss-winning captain is likely to bat first to put pressure on the opponent.
Bottom Line
Bangladesh have a fantastic opportunity to win a Test series against Sri Lanka for the first time. As a result, Bangladesh should enter the field with the goal of winning the BAN vs SL 2nd Test 2022. They were unable to create a substantial advantage in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Chattogram due to their defensive approach. Overall, the hosts have enough strength to defeat the visitors. So, they should be able to win both the match and the series against Sri Lanka if Bangladesh can execute their game plan well on the field.
Read 5000 Test Runs: Foremost Cricketers to Reach the Milestone From Respective Teams
BAN vs SL First Test 2022: Four key Takeaways for Bangladesh
The ZACS Chattogram surface was suitable for batters for the first four days, and it was predicted before the BAN vs SL first Test 2022. The spinners found a groove from the last session of day 4 to the end of day 5. The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ended in a draw, with little excitement among neutral supporters. However, fans in Bangladesh celebrated Mushfiqur Rahim's achievement of becoming the country's first player to surpass 5,000 Test runs. Here are five major takeaways for Bangladesh from the first match.
First Test Match Report: BAN vs SL Series 2022
Sri Lanka understandably opted to bat first in the first Test in Chattogram, and they made 397 runs. Veteran Angelo Mathews was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, who guided the innings by playing a 199-run knock. Besides, Kusal Mendis (54) and Dinesh Chandimal (66) also had good contributions with the bat. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan picked up six wickets for the hosts.
In reply, Bangladesh were all-out for 465 in the third session of day 4. Tamim Iqbal (133), and Mushfiqur Rahim (105) both scored centuries. It was a special match for Mushfiqur as he reached his 5,000 Test runs milestone. Apart from them, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (58) and Litton Das (88) made two valuable contributions with the bat for the Tigers. Medium-pacer Kasun Rajitha picked up the highest 4 wickets for the Lankan side.
Bangladesh did manage to pick up a couple of wickets before the end of day 4 and four more wickets in the second session of day 5. However, an unbeaten 99*-run partnership between Dinesh Chandimal (39) and Niroshan Dickwella (61) saved the match for the visitors. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (52) also made a fifty for his side. In Sri Lanka's second innings, left-arm orthodox spinner Taijul Islam bagged four wickets for Bangladesh. Angelo Mathews won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding contribution with the bat in the first innings.
Major Outcomes for Bangladesh from the First Test of the Series
The series-opening match against Sri Lanka produced some notable outcomes for Bangladesh. The majority of the discussion topics revolve around batting since the batters dominated most of the contest.
Read: Shoriful ruled out of second Test vs Sri Lanka
Mushfiqur Rahim Hits the 5000 Test Runs Milestone
Bangladesh’s big takeaway from the match was Mushfiqur Rahim’s 5,000 runs milestone in the Test format. He became the first Bangladeshi player to achieve the feat by scoring 105 runs in the first innings of Bangladesh. Though Tamim had a chance to reach the landmark before Mushfiqur, he retired hurt on 133 due to a muscle strain. At that moment, Tamim was 19 runs away from scoring his 5,000 Test runs. Mushfiqur Rahim was under pressure prior to this series for not being able to play to his full potential. He was even warned by BCB's president that the selectors may consider dropping Mushfiqur if his barren run with the bat continues. So, it was a perfect response by Bangladesh’s most dependable batter. Overall, Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 5,037 runs in 81 matches with an average of 36.76. In Tests, he has a total of 825 fifties.
Top five most runs for Bangladesh in Tests
Player
Match
Runs
HS
Ave
100s
Mushfiqur Rahim
81
5,037
219*
36.76
8
Tamim Iqbal
66
4,981
206
40.16
10
Shakib Al Hasan
60
4,055
217
39.36
5
Mominul Haque
52
3,516
181
39.06
11
Habibul Bashar
50
3,026
113
30.87
3
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Tamim Iqbal’s Aggressive Hundred
Tamim made 133 off 218 balls in Bangladesh's first innings, striking the ball at a rate of 61. It was his 10th Test century and 25 overall. Tamim Iqbal has changed his batting style in the longer-version format in recent years. He is now more aggressive than he used to be and always tries to attack the opposition bowling attack. That is why Tamim’s strike rate over the last five years has been one of the best in the world. He has had the third-best strike rate among the openers (minimum 10 innings) in the Test format since 2017.
Top five best strike rates by the openers since 2017 (at least 10 innings)
Player
Innings
Runs
Strike Rates
HS
100s
Shikhar Dhawan (India)
19
851
83.75
190
3
Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka)
14
307
65.73
64
0
Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
41
1593
64.07
133
2
David Warner (Australia)
63
2660
61.50
335*
7
Aiden Markram (South Africa)
53
1900
59.33
152
5
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Nayeem Hasan has the potential to replace Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Nayeem Hasan had a great outing in this match, coming on to replace the injured Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The off-spinner made his Test debut almost four years ago against the West Indies in 2018. Since then, he has taken 31 wickets in 8 matches, including his career-best 6/105 against Sri Lanka in the first innings of the first Test in Chattogram. Nayeem’s bowling in the first innings was sparkling and caused real trouble for the Lankan batters. More importantly, most of his wickets were crucial. After this strong showing with the ball, Nayeem has definitely established a genuine case for himself with the selectors to consider him regularly for the longer-version format. If not, he should be the first choice if Mehidy Miraz falls victim to any injury in the future.
Read: Chattogram Test: Bangladesh in driving seat
Bangladesh's defensive batting strategy on the fourth day
Since the pitch was suited to the batters, it was anticipated that runs would score in the first match. Expectedly, the batters did flourish from day 1 to day 4, as 901 runs had been scored for the loss of 22 wickets, averaging 225.25 runs per day. However, the run rate came down to 2.58 on day 4, which indicates players took a cautious approach to their batting. Since Bangladesh batted the whole day on day four, except for the last 17 overs, the blame should go to the home side in case of lower run rates. Mushfiqur Rahim, who was praised for reaching his 5,000 Test runs milestone on that particular day, was the main culprit for low run rates. Rahim had to play 285 balls for his 105 runs on a relatively very good batting surface. One can argue that the Bangladesh team should blame themselves for not creating a winning situation because of their defensive batting approach.
Aftermath
Bangladesh played safe and earned a draw in the BAN vs SL first Test 2022. The Tigers' team campaign had set the expectation that they would strive for a win against a relatively inexperienced Lankan side. However, Bangladesh did not appear worried about winning the match at any stage throughout the game. They took a defensive approach and got the outcome they wanted. Bangladesh should adjust its strategy for the second Test in Dhaka. The pitches at Mirpur would be more favorable to spinners, therefore the match should produce a result.
Bangladesh tighten grip on Ctg Test
With both Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das cementing their place at the crease, Bangladesh tightened their grip on the Chattogram Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
At lunch of day four, Bangladesh were batting at 385 for three with 12 more runs required to pass the first innings total of 397 by Sri Lanka. Mushfiqur is unbeaten for 85 while Liton is also unbeaten for 88.
For the fourth wicket, Mushfiqur and Liton have already added 165 runs.
Read: Mushfiqur is first Bangladeshi to score 5,000 Test runs
In the first session of day four, Bangladesh added 67 runs to the board on top of their overnight total of 318 for three.
The wicket looked as fruitless at it was in the last session of day three. Sri Lankan bowlers tried in many ways to dismantle the partnership of Mushfiqur and Liton but they eventually failed to do so in the first session of day four. The match looks out of the control of Sri Lanka.
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Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 397 in their first innings riding on an outstanding 199 by Angelow Mathews. Along with him, Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal hit a fifty each.
For Bangladesh, Nayeem Hasan, the right-arm spinner, bagged six wickets conceding 105 runs — his best in the format. Shakib Al Hasan bagged three while Taijul Islam took one wicket.
BAN vs SL First Test 2022: Bangladesh Heading For a Big First Innings Total
The Sri Lankan team put up a valiant effort. They scored 397 runs in their first innings thanks to Angelo Mathews' brilliant effort. However, considering the conditions of the ZACS surface, Sri Lanka should have scored more runs in the first innings to mentally push Bangladesh. Oppositely, the hosts should be satisfied with their performance, which saw them restrict Sri Lanka to a reasonable total. Bangladesh are clearly aiming for a big total to take a huge first-inning lead in the BAN vs SL first Test 2022.
Sri Lanka’s First Innings
The pitch conditions indicated that it would be a belter for the batters. Therefore, Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne didn’t have to think twice about batting first. Sri Lanka didn’t have a brilliant start, losing a couple of wickets before lunch on day one. Nayeem Hasan picked up both the openers for Bangladesh. He was included in the place of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Nayeem has justified his inclusion by taking six wickets in the first innings.
Read Sri Lanka continue to thrive as Nayeem fights back taking 4
For Sri Lanka, veteran Angelo Mathews played a magnificent 199-run knock and single-handedly carried the innings to a big total. Mathews made a 92-run stand with Kusal Mendis for the third wicket after losing the openers in the first session. It seemed they were well set at the crease and ready to form a big partnership in the middle. However, Mendis (54) threw away his wicket after trying to smash Taijul in the mid-wicket region.
The biggest stand of Sri Lanka’s innings came between Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal for the fifth wicket. The experienced duo added 136 runs together and guided Sri Lanka to get past the 300-run barrier. Nayeem eventually broke the stand when Sri Lanka had 319 runs on board. In fact, the visitors lost four wickets in the span of four overs.
Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Tamim, Mushfiqur on verge of unique milestones
The innings was then carried by Mathews and the tail-enders. He was on his way to completing his double hundred, but his attempt to slog Nayeem's delivery didn't go as planned, and he wasted the perfect opportunity. Bangladesh bowled Sri Lanka out for 397, with Mathews finishing one run shy of 200 in his marathon innings. Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets in addition to Nayeem, and Taijul took one wicket.
The Scenario of Bangladesh’s First Innings
Day three ended with Bangladesh reaching 318/3, just 79 runs short of Sri Lanka's first innings total. The veteran Tamim Iqbal and his new opening partner Mahmudul Hasan Joy gave the selectors some optimism by amassing 168 runs together in 48.5 overs. Tamim may have finally found a true partner in the Test format in Joy.
Read Nayeem shines with 6 wickets to deprive Mathews of double ton
Mahmudul Hasan was trapped by a bouncer by Asitha Fernando and lost his wicket after scoring his first fifty (58) at home in the Test format. Bangladesh lost two more quick wickets—Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mominul Haque—and were down to 184/3.
Then Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim carried the innings to 220/3 at the end of day 3. In the meantime, Tamim completed his 10th Test century and first against Sri Lanka. He remained unbeaten on 133* at tea but didn’t come out to bat in the third session. The southpaw had to retire after suffering a cramp in the second session of day three. He was just 19 runs shy of reaching the 5,000 marks in Tests.
Litton Das came out to bat in place of Tamim in the post Tea session. Bangladesh didn’t lose any more wickets in the final session as Litton and Mushfiqur played out the day. Litton has remained unbeaten with 54 runs, his 12th Test fifty overall. On the other hand, Mushfiqur Rahim has remained undefeated with 53 runs, his 26th fifty overall. Mushfiqur only needs 15 runs to complete his 5,000 Test runs.
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The Bangladesh team is on a goal to put up a massive total so they don't have to bat again. They are well on their way to achieving this target. If Bangladesh keep batting like this, they will be able to amass a big total by the end of their first innings in the BAN vs SL first Test 2022.
Bottom Line
Bangladesh are only 79 runs behind Sri Lanka's first innings total with six wickets in hand. The pitch is still in terrific shape for the batters, with no big fractures apparent thus far. Bangladesh batsmen are set to dominate the Lankan bowling unit on day four if the surface remains the same, allowing them to take a substantial lead in the first innings. As a result, the play on day four of the BAN vs SL first Test 2022 is vital and will ultimately determine the match's fate.
Read Mushfiqur, Liton grind Sri Lanka after Tamim’s ton