While the tournaments such as the T20 World Cup throws up riveting contests between heavyweights of the world cricket that also determines the course of the tournament, one downside of these tournaments is that it also offers contests that don’t have any impact outside of the two sides involved.
The third game of the Super 12 phase of the ongoing T20 World Cup is a game of the second scenario as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to go head to head against each other. Yes, the shortness of the format and the tournament allows teams on the lower standings massive opportunities to inflict surprise on big teams, but both these sides will not be reprimanded for not having larger than life objectives from this game.
The buildup
Bangladesh were slow to get off the ground and were rocked by Scotland in the first game of the tournament. However, they picked themselves up quickly and plummeted Papua New Guinea and Oman to seal a spot in the Super 12 of the tournament.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka have been an in-form side so far and have won all of their games in the qualifying round.
Sri Lanka of now are not the same side that won the championship in the 2014 edition and the fact that they had to come through the qualifying round speaks a lot of their downwards curve.
They suffered their first bilateral series defeat against Bangladesh earlier this year and hence this world cup encounter will be a massive opportunity for the Lankan lions to use their rich vein of form and rout the Bangla Tigers.
Contest within contest
Shakib Al Hasan vs Wanindu Hasaranga
Shakib Al Hasan put his hands up and delivered all-round performances one after another to help Bangladesh get back amongst good form and on the path to Super 12.
On the other hand, Wanindu Hasarnaga has been one of the most talked-about cricketers of Sri Lanka and the skipper Dasun Shanaka would be banking on his wrist spin to produce goods against Bangladesh. He is most likely to be brought into the attack to stop Shakib from running away with the game with the bat.
Interestingly, both these men are in ominous form and that sets up for a riveting battle on a Sunday at the Sharjah cricket stadium where there are high chances of ball spinning and both these men are wise craftsmen to trouble batsmen.
Shakib was the chief destructor of Papua New Guinea and Oman batting lineups along with putting on a magnificent batting performance against Oman in the second game.
Hasaranga, meanwhile, was the lynchpin of Sri Lanka’s unbeaten streak in the first stage and picked as many as six wickets, giving away only 45 runs in his 11 overs spread across three games.
Also, Bangladesh top order is not that formidable and if Hasaranga gets on the top of Shakib and wishfully other senior men such as Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur with his variations, the story could be a jubilant one for the Sri Lankan lions.
Match details
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
Match: 15, Super 12 Group 1
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Date & Time: Oct 24, 02:00 PM LOCAL, 03:30 IST
Pitch report
There has been only one game at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium so far in the tournament and only Sri Lanka among both sides have played at the venue. They had run over a clueless Netherlands side on a surface that supported prodigious turn.
In the second phase of the Indian Premier League as well, the pitches at the venue seldom provided pace and enough carry for the batsmen to make those games run feast.
There is a high chance that the nature of the surface will be similar and conserving the quality of spin on offer from both sides, the batsmen on either side should mentally prepare themselves for a tough and attritional challenge.
Team News
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will have to make a forced change from the playing they fielded against the Netherlands as Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out of the game due to injury. He rose rapidly onto the big stage for the presence of carrom ball in his arsenal but Sri Lanka also have a like for like replacement in Akila Dananjaya.
Apart from the spinner, all of the 10 members of the last game should find themselves in the playing XI once again albeit there will be pressure on the top order to make use of the powerplay, which won’t be easy as they are not in a great run of form.
Probable XI
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (WK), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara
Bangladesh
Bangladesh will be a bit anxious about their top order after mixed results in the first three games of the tournament. However, they will be relieved at the return of form of the three senior-most men in the group.
The trio of Mahmudullah, Shakib and Mushfiqur form the engine room and Bangladesh will need all three of them to come with full firepower and acceleration against Sri Lanka.
Probable XI
Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Mahedi Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan (WK), Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah (C), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
CE Fantasy XI
Kusal Perera (WK), Mahmudullah, Liton Das, Avishka Fernando, Naim Sheikh, Dasun Shanaka, Shakib Al Hasan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Lahiru Kumara, Mohammad Saifuddin
Captain: Shakib Al Hasan
Vice-captain: Wanindu Hasaranga