Date: September 9, 2023, at 15:00 Venue: R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The Asia Cup 2023 is in full swing, and cricket fans are in for a treat as Sri Lanka takes on Bangladesh in the 2nd ODI Super Four match. The clash is scheduled to take place at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and promises to be an exciting battle between these two Asian cricketing nations.
Match Background:
Sri Lanka has a history of success against Bangladesh in ODIs, having won three of their last five encounters. They enter the Super Four stage with momentum, having secured two consecutive wins. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim will be key players to watch out for as they aim to make a comeback after a challenging match against Pakistan. The R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo has witnessed memorable moments, including Sri Lanka’s highest run chase of 292-4 against Australia in 2022.
Match Prediction:
Considering Sri Lanka’s strong record against Bangladesh in ODI cricket and their recent form in the Asia Cup, they are favored to win this match. Home conditions will provide an additional advantage to the Lankan Lions.
Team Previews:
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka faced a stern test in their last match against Afghanistan, narrowly winning by three runs. They are the only team in the Asia Cup to enter the Super Four stage with two consecutive wins, one of which came against Bangladesh.
Opener Pathum Nissanka has been in excellent form, amassing 472 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 59 and a strike rate of nearly 90. His partner, Dimuth Karunaratne, has also contributed significantly, scoring 402 runs in his last nine matches at an average of 50.25 and a strike rate of 88.54.
Kusal Mendis, fresh from a brilliant 92 off 84 balls against Afghanistan, is another key player to watch. Wicket-keeper batter Mendis has amassed 388 runs in 13 ODIs this year at an average of 43.11.
Charith Asalanka, with scores of 63* and 36 in this series, adds depth to the middle order. The standout bowler for Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup has been Matheesha Pathirana, who has taken eight wickets from his last five matches at an economy of 5.64.
In the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana has performed admirably. In the previous game against Bangladesh, the off-spinner conceded just 19 runs from his eight overs while picking up two wickets.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Dasun Shanaka (c)
- Dunith Wellalage
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Kasun Rajitha
- Matheesha Pathirana
Bangladesh:
In their previous game against Sri Lanka in this Asia Cup, Najmul Hossain Shanto was the standout batter, scoring 89 off 122 deliveries. Unfortunately, Shanto won’t be available for the rest of the tournament due to injury.
In his absence, Bangladesh will heavily rely on experienced players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to step up. Both have performed well in challenging conditions. In Bangladesh’s previous match against Pakistan, Mushfiqur top-scored with 64 off 87 balls, which was the team’s highest score in a total of 193.
Another dependable batter for the Tigers is Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has excelled with the bat recently. Bangladesh experimented by promoting him as an opener in the game against Afghanistan, and he responded with an outstanding 112* from 119 balls.
Bangladesh’s pace bowlers, including Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, have been impressive. Taskin Ahmed, with 12 wickets in his last six matches at an economy of 3.89, has shown significant improvement. Hasan Mahmud, with 13 wickets in his last eight matches at an economy of 5.58, is another seamer to watch.
The spin department has struggled in this series, but Shakib Al Hasan is expected to deliver a noteworthy performance.
Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI:
- Mohammad Naim
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Litton Das
- Towhid Hridoy
- Shakib Al Hasan (c)
- Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
- Shamim Hossain
- Afif Hossain
- Taskin Ahmed
- Shoriful Islam
- Hasan Mahmud
Winning Prediction:
With a head-to-head record of 41-9 in favor of Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in ODIs, the home team holds a significant advantage. Playing in familiar conditions further strengthens Sri Lanka’s position. Their spinners are expected to consistently trouble the opposition batters.
Bangladesh will rely on experienced stars and Mehidy Hasan Miraz to make a difference. However, Sri Lanka’s well-rounded team and strong record against Bangladesh make them the favorites to win this match.
Expect Sri Lanka to emerge victorious in this contest, maintaining their stronghold in the Asia Cup and thrilling fans with an exciting ODI clash.
