The third and final T20I of the three-match series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has become a decider as both teams claimed victory in one match each in the first two encounters.
Bangladesh is poised to secure a series win as they face off against the tourists on Saturday at Sylhet International Stadium.
The match is scheduled to commence at 3 pm (Bangladesh time) and will be broadcast live on Gtv and T-Sports. Fans worldwide can follow the action through various channels and OTT platforms, including the YouTube channels of Rabbithole and T-Sports.
In the first match, Bangladesh fell short by a mere three runs while chasing a daunting total of 206 runs. Despite impressive half-centuries from veteran Mahmudullah Riyad and newcomer Jaker Ali, Bangladesh faltered in the final stretch.
However, the tables turned in the following match as Bangladesh's disciplined bowling attack restricted Sri Lanka to a modest total, which they comfortably chased down, losing only two wickets with nearly two overs to spare.
A notable highlight from the second match was the half-century by Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, who has been enduring a lean spell of form. His fifty provided a much-needed boost to the Bangladesh team.
“We are in a position to win this series, but to do that, we have to consider other factors,” Bangladesh's head coach, Chandika Hathurusingh, said ahead of the decisive clash.
“It is a day game. We are aware of those factors. If we execute our gameplan, we are giving ourselves the best chance to win the series. Having said that, Sri Lanka is a very good T20 team,” he added.
Bangladesh has never won a T20I series against Sri Lanka, making this a big opportunity for the Tigers to assert themselves in the shortest format of international cricket. A victory in the third T20I would instill confidence in the Bangladesh team ahead of their upcoming ODI series against the same opponent in Chattogram.
Looking ahead to the series, Bangladesh captain Najmul emphasized their focus on enhancing their performance in T20Is and achieving success in ODIs.
“The past year has seen positive developments for us in T20Is,” Najmul stated. “Our T20I game has notably improved. By addressing a few key areas, we can aspire to perform well against any team, irrespective of the conditions, in the future.”