Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
– A team (Sri Lanka) that won their first game convincingly, against a team (Bangladesh) the lost their first game convincingly.
– A team (Sri Lanka) that recently smashed the other (Bangladesh) 2-0 in a recent T20I series.
– A team (Sri Lanka) that poached the other team’s (Bangladesh) coach, and is enjoying some success straight away.
Sri Lanka should beat Bangladesh easily, right?
 |
| Another article you might like |
However, the beauty of T20 cricket is that anything can happen on the day. Bangladesh,, without Shakib Al Hasan, look to be really struggling at the moment, and their struggles were on show in a very poor performance against India. The concerning aspect for the Tigers is that India didn’t even get out of second gear throughout the game, and still won easily. They now come up against a Sri Lanka side that was impressive against India, so the key questions are – do Bangladesh stand any chance? What is their best route to victory?
A win for Sri Lanka would give them one foot in the final. The Lions had a wretched 2017, but have started 2018 promisingly, even though they haven’t played any top opposition yet. However, India still possessed some very good players in their side, and Sri Lanka put in a professional performance to nail their chase of 175. Chandika Hathurusinga knows Bangladesh inside and out, and if Sri Lanka put in a performance like they did versus India, it would surely be enough vs Bangladesh.
Key to a Sri Lanka win
Fast start by the top order.
This was key to Sri Lanka’s success on their Bangladesh tour, as well as their first game against India. A good start from the top order gives the middle order freedom to express themselves, and for Sri Lanka fans, they would have taken heart by how well the batting line up performed in a tricky chase first up.
Kusal Perera was dynamic with his 66, and Thisara Perera built on his good showing against Bangladesh with a strong 22 off 10 balls to see the Lions home against India. I’m really looking forward to see how Kusal Mendis goes against a team he has enjoyed playing against in recent times. A fast start by Dinushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera might be too much for Bangladesh to come back from.
 |
| Kusal Perera was excellent against India |
Key to a Bangladesh win
 |
| Tamim Iqbal needs to perform for Bangladesh at the top |
Predicted teams
Stats & Facts:
- Since January 23, Bangladesh have lost two ODIs, a Test, and three T20Is. They have recorded no wins in this time.
- Soumya Sarkar, Bangladesh’s leading T20I run scorer in 2017, has scored 40+ three times in his last five innings.
- Sri Lanka will be looking to take advantage of Bangladesh’s inability to rotate the strike. Reminder: Bangladesh played out 11.2 overs of dot balls v India.
- Sri Lanka have won their last three T20Is, after losing their previous eight.
- Kusal Mendis’ 66 v India was his eighth fifty in T20Is, and equaled Kumar Sangakkara’s record of most fifties for Sri Lanka in T20Is without a hundred (eight).
Prediction:
