Pressure game for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh

Rex Clementine in Dallas

If the recent bilateral series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were any indication, the former world champions should cruise past Chandika Hathurusinghe’s side in their day-night fixture on Friday here in Dallas, a city in the southern US state Texas.

Sri Lanka overcame Bangladesh in the recent T-20 series between the sides 2-1. Head to head these teams have competed in 16 games with Sri Lanka winning 11 of those, a winning percentage of 70 percent. There have been two T-20 World Cup encounters between the teams in 2007 and 2021 and both have been won by Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka are also at full strength unlike during the bilateral series where Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga missed out due to various reasons like niggles and injuries.

After a disappointing game against South Africa in New York, where they were shot out for their lowest total in T-20 cricket, the team will be looking to raise their game.

The bowlers have delivered in white ball cricket in each time in recent years and it’s the batting that remains a concern.

There have been two games in Dallas so far in the World Cup and both produced contrasting results. While the USA versus Canada game was a high scoring one with both sides scoring over 190 runs, in the next game between Nepal and Netherlands, both teams struggled to score freely. Nepal were shot out for 106 runs while Netherlands needed 18.4 overs to chase down the target.

Sri Lanka left out Dushmantha Chameera opting for the two slingers in Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara against South Africa. Pathirana bowled some unplayable deliveries in that game while Thushara took a hat-trick in the Bangladesh series and the team management is likely to back the same combination unless they are thinking of a three-seam attack.

Sri Lanka would be keeping a close eye on leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. Not that his googly troubled the batters in the recent series but he is capable of taking bowling attacks apart with his big hitting as showcased during the ODIs.

It’s a must win game for Sri Lanka to move on to the second round. Their last two games in the tournament are against Netherlands and Nepal. A win in Dallas on Friday means they are almost certain of making the trip to Antigua for the second round.