Sri Lanka
Women’s Asia Cup: Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 114 runs
In their third match in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 114 runs. It was Bangladesh’s second win in the tournament.
In their first two matches, against Sri Lanka and Thailand, Bangladesh beat Thailand but lost to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh won the toss on Wednesday in Dambulla and opted to bat first.
Read more: Shathira Jakir Jessy: First Bangladeshi Woman to Become an International Umpire
Opener Murshida Khatun and captain Nigar Sultana proved the decision of batting first as justified, hitting a 50 each. While Murshida hit 80 with 10 fours, Nigar scored 62 with five fours and two sixes.
Riding on their excellent batting show, Bangladesh posted 191 for two.
In reply, Malaysia managed only 77 for eight in 20 overs and suffered a heavy defeat.
Nahida Akter took two wickets for Bangladesh.
Read more: ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024: Match Fixtures, Schedule, Groups, and Teams
T20 World Cup: Bangladesh overcome batting wobbles to beat Sri Lanka, after bowlers do their job
Bangladesh secured a victory over Sri Lanka in their opening match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in Dallas, Texas on Friday.
Over half of the spectators at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, filled to capacity, left with smiles brought on by their team's win. To watch this match in USA’s cricket capital, Dallas, thousands of expatriate Bangladeshis gathered from around the USA.
This win does Bangladesh's chances for advancing to the next phase a big favour, while Sri Lanka, already defeated by South Africa in their first match, now faces a challenging path.
Sri Lanka, asked to bat first, were restricted to a paltry 124 runs for nine wickets. Bangladesh chased down the target with two wickets in hand and six balls remaining.
T20 World Cup: Bowlers do the business for Tigers, restricting Sri Lanka to 124/9
However, the victory was not as easy as the target might have suggested. Despite a below-par score, Sri Lanka's total proved to be a difficult chase for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh lost their struggling opener, Soumya Sarkar, for a duck in the first over. Soumya attempted to sweep a good-length delivery but top-edged it to Wanindu Hasaranga at mid-on.
The next over saw the dismissal of the other opener, Tanzid Hasan. Nuwan Thushara bowled a full-length delivery that angled inwards. Tanzid tried to drive but was beaten by the late swing, resulting in his off stump being shattered.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto soon followed, also dismissed cheaply, extending his struggles. He was lured out of position by a wide full-length delivery and edged a sharp catch to Charith Asalanka.
At this point, Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious position despite the low target. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy worked hard to keep Bangladesh in the contest.
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Towhid launched a particularly impressive assault in the 12th over, smashing three sixes off three consecutive deliveries from Sri Lankan captain Wanindu Hasaranga. The first two sixes were slog sweeps off Hasaranga's googlies. The third six came when the bowler tried to adjust his line with a wide full-length delivery outside off. However, Towhid was ready with an inside-out shot over cover for his third consecutive six.
These sixes significantly boosted Bangladesh's run rate, easing the pressure on the remaining batters. Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan departed quickly, bringing a sense of tension, but Mahmudullah Riyad finished the job with a brief but impactful 16 runs.
Sri Lankan bowler Nuwan Thushara took four wickets, including two in consecutive deliveries.
Given the nature of Bangladesh's victory, a crucial question arises: has this win boosted their confidence ahead of the challenging clash against South Africa on a tricky New York surface?
Earlier, leg spinner Rishad Ahmed and experienced pacer Mustafizur Rahman bowled brilliantly to bring Bangladesh back into the game after Sri Lanka were put in to bat and got off to a fast start in the powerplay.
Taskin Ahmed, who was initially questionable for the match due to a fitness issue, struck in the second over to remove Kusal Mendis for 10 runs. Mendis had started aggressively with two boundaries before being dismissed.
Sri Lanka were 48/1 off 5 overs, when Mustafiz was introduced into the attack. He then took two wickets in the sixth and eighth overs. He dismissed Kamindu Mendis with his first ball and then Pathum Nissanka, who top-scored for Sri Lanka with 47 runs off 28 balls. Nissanka's innings included seven fours and a six.
Rishad Hossain, the legspinner who is steadily gaining prominence in Bangladesh cricket, bowled a crucial 14th over. He removed both Charith Asalanka (19 runs) and Wanindu Hasaranga (a golden duck) in two consecutive deliveries, breaking a promising partnership.
Rishad ended with figures of 3/22 off 4 overs, that earned him the man-of-the-match award.
Sri Lanka's innings faltered in the final overs as Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed two wickets in the 20th over, including the key wicket of Angelo Mathews. Mathews was caught at short third man for 16 runs, becoming Sakib's first World Cup wicket.
Read more: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh aims to unleash full potential despite challenges
Preview of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Match in ICC T20 World Cup 2024
After a shocking start in the current T20 World Cup with a humiliating defeat against South Africa, Sri Lanka would look to bounce back in the tournament with a confident win. For that, they will face Bangladesh, who are not in great shape at the moment. Let’s take a look at the BAN vs SL match preview in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Table: Schedule of BAN vs SL Match in the 2024 ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup
Match Details
Match
Date (BST)
Teams
Time (BST)
Venue
15
8/6/2024
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
6:30 AM
Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
Read more: Analysis of Australia Squad in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
Preview of the BAN vs SL Match in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka had a really poor and unexpected start at this World Cup. They were wrapped up for only 77 against South Africa in New York. However, their bowlers put up a good fight and stretched the game to the 17th over against the explosive Proteas batting line-up. Their bowling performance should give them some serious confidence and hope ahead of this game.
Additionally, despite the poor batting performance, they might still feel they have the upper hand against this Bangladesh team. Bangladesh had come to the USA early and played a series against the hosts as well for better preparation and adapting to the conditions. Everyone can argue about how well the preparation went. They lost the series against the USA 2-1, their winning game was against a USA side that rested some of their regular starters, and then had a hapless batting performance against India in the warm-up game.
Read more: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Groups, Match Fixtures, and Venues
Table: Sri Lanka’s Performance in the T20I Matches in 2024
Sri Lanka Performance in T20I Format in 2024
Played
10
Won
6
Lost
4
Tie/NR
0
Highest Run-scorer
Kusal Mendis (303)
Highest Wicket Taker
Wanindu Hasaranga (15)
Table: Bangladesh’s Performance in the T20I Matches in 2024
Bangladesh Performance in T20I Matches in 2024
Played
11
Won
6
Lost
5
Tie/NR
0
Highest Run-scorer
Towhid Hridoy (263)
Highest Wicket Taker
Mustafizur Rahman (15)
Read more: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh aims to unleash full potential despite challenges
Both teams have the same problem but in different manners. Bangladesh’s batting lineup crumbles because of the failure of the top order. It has been misfiring miserably this year. Their opening pair went past 30 only 4 times this year and it was undone 4 times in less than 10 runs. The performances of Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, and Nazmul Hossain Shanto are not up to the mark. Tanzid Tamim has been a breath of fresh air scoring 3 half-centuries in his first 7 games. Still, there is a lot to correct in this batting line-up. However, their middle order has been clicking so far. Four of their top five run-scorers this year have been batting in the middle order.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is in the opposite situation. While their top-order is firing well, it is their middle-order who are not putting up performances. Their lack of batting depth is causing big problems for them. Even in the game against South Africa, they were at 31/2 from where they lost 8 wickets for a meager 46 runs.
Read more: Venue Guide: Stadiums of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
Both the teams won’t have much complaints about their bowling as it has been decent throughout the years. For Bangladesh, their batters are not giving them much to fight with. However, the potential absence of their two strike bowlers, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, adds to Bangladesh’s woes.
BAN vs SL H2H Records in T20I Format and T20 World Cups So Far
Table: Head-to-head T20I Records between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka So far
Head-to-Head Records in T20I
Matches Played
Sri Lanka Won
Bangladesh Won
TIE/NR
16
11
5
0
Read more: Analyzing Bangladesh Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
Table: BD vs SL H2H Records in T20 World Cups So far
Head-to-Head Records in T20 World Cup
Matches Played
Sri Lanka Won
Bangladesh Won
TIE/NR
2
2
0
0
Another sign of hope for the Sri Lankans is the head-to-head records. They usually have the upper hand over Bangladesh. Sri Lanka won the last 4 out of 5 games against Bangladesh. Adding to that, they won the latest series against Tigers this year in Bangladesh. The Sri Lanka team are yet to be beaten by Bangladesh in a T20 World Cup match so far.
Read more: Squad Analysis of Sri Lanka for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
Bangladesh can gain confidence by how the pitch is playing. There have been plenty of low-scoring encounters in this T20 World Cup. The game of Sri Lanka vs South Africa is an example of that. Bangladesh usually does better in slow pitches. Dallas, where the game will be played saw Nepal and Netherlands fight it out in a low-scoring battle. However, this field also saw the first game between Canada and the USA where the USA chased down 194 of Canada with 14 balls to spare. With their batting form, Bangladesh would hope this to not be the case in their game.
Probable Lineups in the BAN vs SL T20 Match
Most Probable XI of the Sri Lanka Team
Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dhanajya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, and Nuwan Thushara.
Read more: Stars who can be game-changers for Bangladesh in T20 World Cup
Most Probable XI of Bangladesh Team
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Litton Kumer Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Sakib, and Mustafizur Rahman.
Key Players to Watch in Bangladesh Team
Tanzid Hasan
As mentioned before, Tanzid Hasan has been in the new era of Bangladesh's top-order since his debut. He scored 237 runs in his 7 games averaging 47. If Bangladesh want to put up a big total, Tanzid has to perform one of his best games so far to contribute largely to the team Tiger’s victory.
Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman is always a key bowler for Bangladesh in T20Is. With the probable absence of Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur is supposed to lead the team’s bowling attack. He has a good T20I bowling record against Sri Lanka with 14 wickets in 12 innings striking at 18.85. Without a doubt, he needs to be at his best in this game.
Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World 2024
Towhid Hridoy
Towhid Hridoy is the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh this year in T20Is with 263 runs and a couple of half-centuries. He also scored 36.86 runs on average this year. Bangladesh needs him to go big in this game to have a solid winning chance.
Key Players to Watch in Sri Lanka
Wanindu Hasaranga
Sri Lanka will rely on their skipper heavily for this game. He bowls in the middle overs where he is supposed to face the in-form middle order of Bangladesh. If he manages to do what he usually does against them, Sri Lanka will feel inches closer to a win in this game.
Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis is the highest scorer for Sri Lanka so far in 2024. Given that Bangladesh’s batting order has been clumsy, Sri Lanka might feel putting up a good total on the board does 90% of the job for them to win. And it does not need to put more emphasis on how much Sri Lanka would rely on their most in-form and productive batter to deliver the goods this time.
Read more: Fixtures of Bangladesh Team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana has been in great form with 11 wickets in his last 6 games and coming from a wonderful IPL campaign. He was also the best bowler for Sri Lanka in the game against South Africa. He can give his team an early advantage against Bangladesh’s clumsy top order. If he does his job well, Sri Lanka have a real winning chance.
Verdict
In the 2024 ICC T20 Men’s World Cup tournament, both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have similar kinds of issues with their respective teams. However, the recent forms and history between these two sides give Sri Lanka the edge. As a result, Sri Lanka will enter the BAN vs SL T20I match as favorites in this enticing rivalry of cricket.
Read more: USA vs BAN T20I Series 2024: Analysis of Bangladesh’s Series Defeat Against USA
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series can be watched from anywhere in the world
Just a few days after the conclusion of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 10th season, Bangladesh cricketers are back on the field as they are set to face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series starting on Monday (March 04, 2024). Fans around the globe can tune in to watch this series promising exciting cricket.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that spectators in Bangladesh can enjoy live coverage of the series on two TV channels — GTV and T-Sports — and can also stream the action on the go via the Rabbithole and T-Sports apps.
Sri Lankan fans can catch the series live on Siyatha TV, with streaming options available through Dialog TV. In India, viewers can follow the action on the FanCode OTT platform.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series kicks off Monday
For fans in 27 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, the series will be broadcast on STARZPLAY, eLife, and Cricbuzz, with Cricbuzz also available in 10 countries in Southeast Asia.
Astro will broadcast the series in Malaysia, while Willow will cover it in 23 countries in North America.
For fans in other parts of the world, the series will be available on the Rabbithole and T-Sports YouTube channels, ensuring global access to the matches.
The first match of the T20I series is scheduled for Monday, March 4, with the remaining two matches taking place on March 6 and 9 in Sylhet. All matches will commence at 6 pm (Bangladesh time). Following the T20I series, both teams will head to Chattogram, Bangladesh’s main port city, for a three-match ODI series.
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BCB announces squad for Sri Lanka T20Is and ODIs
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday announced the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming three-match T20I and the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka next month.
Right-arm spinner Aliss Al Islam earned his maiden call-up to the national T20I squad. Additionally, veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad returns to the T20I lineup based on his recent strong performances.
Aliss’ inclusion was a surprising move, as he only scalped 19 wickets in 24 T20s. Overlooking spinners like Mehdiy Hasan Miraz or Tanvir Islam for T20Is was also a head-spinning decision.
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Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain were also overlooked from the T20I side. They were part of the team in the last T20I series against New Zealand.
The Sri Lanka series begins on March 4th with the first T20I at Sylhet International Stadium. The remaining two T20I matches will take place at the same venue on March 6th and 9th. The first two matches will start at 6 pm, while the third will begin at 3 pm.
The series then shifts to Chattogram for the ODIs, with matches on March 13th, 15th, and 18th. The first two ODIs will start at 2:30 pm, and the third at 10 am.
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Following the white-ball matches, the teams will compete in a two-match test series. The first test will begin on March 22nd in Chattogram, and the second test will commence on March 30th in Sylhet.
T20I squad:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Litton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Tawhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mahmullah Riyad, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Aliss Al Islam
Shanto named Bangladesh captain in all formats
ODI squad (for the first and second matches):
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Mustafizur Rahman.
FBCCI President invites Sri Lankan investors to invest in Bangladesh's SEZ
The President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahbubul Alam invited Sri Lankan businessmen and investors to invest in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
The FBCCI President made this call during a courtesy meeting with the high commissioner of Sri Lanka in Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkody at FBCCI’s Gulshan office on Sunday afternoon.
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Mahbubul said the government has been establishing 100 special economic zones in Bangladesh with All kinds of facilities including oil, gas, and electricity for the investors.
Besides, one-stop service, e-platform, and many other attractive incentives are on offer to facilitate business and investment in Bangladesh. Sri Lankan businessmen can be benefitted by setting up industry here on their own or in joint ventures, he said.
Bangladesh’s journey: From ‘basket case’ to aspiring economic powerhouse
He said garments, pharmaceuticals, eco-tourism, hospitality, etc. are some of the potential sectors in Bangladesh. If Sri Lankan investors want to invest in Bangladesh, FBCCI will provide all-out support.
Speaking at the meeting, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dharmapala Weerakkody said that Sri Lanka has many business entrepreneurs who are interested in doing business in Bangladesh.
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Besides many potential sectors, Sri Lanka receives a large number of tourists from Bangladesh every year. He said it is time to increase bilateral trade between the two countries.
FBCCI president praised the Sri Lankan Central Bank's role in overcoming the economic challenges.
Commercial Counselor of the Sri Lankan High Commission Srimali Jayarathna, FBCCI Vice-President Shomi Kaiser, Rashadul Hossain Chowdhury (Ronni), Secretary General Md. Alamgir, among others, were present at the meeting.
Bangladesh to face Sri Lanka amid pollution concerns in Delhi
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are poised to face each other in their ICC World Cup encounter on Monday amidst concerns about the poor air quality in Delhi.
Bangladesh has already been eliminated from the race for the semifinals with six defeats in seven matches so far. In contrast, Sri Lanka has won two matches out of seven and still holds some mathematical chances.
India wins toss and opts to bat against South Africa in table-topping Cricket World Cup match
Alongside Bangladesh, the current World Champions, England, have also been eliminated from the race for the semifinals. The hosts, India and South Africa, have qualified for the semis.
Bangladesh had to cancel their practice session on Friday due to the poor air quality in Delhi. The next morning, only 13 players were present at the morning practice session, with lower attendance in the afternoon session.
On Sunday, only eight players showed up for practice, while others remained in the hotel due to concerns about the poor air quality.
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Bangladesh’s coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, spoke to the media on Monday and mentioned that the players who suffer from asthma did not participate in the last practice session ahead of the match.
Chandika stated that the conditions are not ideal for cricket, and he added that the players should be cautious about the potential long-term health problems that this condition may pose.
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According to reports, the air quality may affect the match on the day of the game. However, the final decision will be made based on the guidelines of the ICC and the on-field umpires.
Preview of ENG vs. SL ODI in ICC World Cup 2023
Ranked at 8th and 9th places, Sri Lanka and England, respectively, are gearing up to face each other with the intent of strengthening their campaigns in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. Both teams find themselves in a must-win situation as they go head to head in the 25th match of the 2023 World Cup on Thursday, October 26, at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. This crucial showdown will take place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bengaluru in India.
England vs. Sri Lanka ODI in ICC Men’s World Cup 2023: Match Preview
England Team’s Performance in the World Cup So Far
The England team is facing significant challenges. Having managed to secure just one victory out of their four matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 group stage, the defending champions are on the edge of a potentially embarrassing elimination. This disappointing turn of events has left fans disheartened. England, however, is not alone in their struggles. Just slightly ahead of them in the standings due to a better net run rate, Sri Lanka is sharing the bottom spot with England.
The 2023 tournament began on a sour note for England as they suffered a defeat against New Zealand. They appeared to regain their footing by defeating Bangladesh in the next match. Nevertheless, a surprising loss to Afghanistan halted England's resurgence, and a significant defeat at the hands of South Africa landed them in the ninth position in the league standings.
Jos Buttler's team suffered their most substantial ODI loss ever against South Africa, effectively signaling the demise of England's weak defense of their World Cup title at the Wankhede Stadium. The Proteas exhibited ruthless efficiency against an underwhelming England bowling unit, scoring 399 runs on the scoreboard in their allotted 50 overs, with Heinrich Klaasen demonstrating a brilliant display of aggressive batting. In reply, Buttler and his team struggled, and it was only a partnership between Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson that prevented England from facing complete humiliation.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Tickets: How to Buy Online, Booking, Prices, Starting Dates and Timings
Performance of the Sri Lanka Team in the World Cup So Far
On the other hand, Sri Lanka commenced their campaign with three high-scoring matches, although they concluded with losses to South Africa, Pakistan, and Australia. A crucial win against the Netherlands injected some momentum into the Sri Lankan challenge. However, Sri Lanka's batting has generally been sharp, with scores exceeding 300 in two matches against South Africa and Pakistan and a successful chase of 253. However, their bowling has been somewhat inconsistent, particularly when facing stronger opponents. This is an area that England will likely aim to capitalize on, while the Lankans aim to capitalize on the confidence they gained from a win over the Netherlands.
When it comes to their team selection, England has already utilized all 15 players they brought along, leaving them with limited options. However, there is a remaining hope that Brydon Carse, who is set to join the team, can have a similar impact to Liam Plunkett, bolstering their performance in the middle overs. The batting department has underperformed, with only one century and four fifties so far, but they might find some comfort in facing a Sri Lankan bowling attack that initially struggled by conceding scores of 428 for 5 and 345 for 4 in the tournament.
Regarding Sri Lanka's aspirations, securing a spot in the top four is a tough challenge, especially with upcoming matches against India and New Zealand. Nevertheless, they have displayed flashes of their potential, primarily through Kusal Mendis, who has taken on the captaincy in addition to his wicketkeeping duties, and Sadeera Samarawickrama's batting performances. Additionally, Dilshan Madushanka has demonstrated his wicket-taking skill with the ball.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online
ENG vs. SL Head-to-Head Records in ODI
In ODI cricket, England and Sri Lanka have played a total of 78 matches. Out of these 78 games, England emerged as winners in 38, while Sri Lanka won 36 matches. Three matches concluded without a result, and one match ended in a tie.
Table: England vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far
Matches
England Won
Sri Lanka Won
No Result
Tie
78
38
36
3
1
Predicted Playing XI for England
Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (capt, wk), Harry Brook, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood.
Predicted Playing XI for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha/Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
English Players to Watch
Dawid Malan
Dawid Malan's remarkable innings of 140 against Bangladesh paved the way for England's only victory in the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup as of the time of writing. Teaming up with Jonny Bairstow as an opening batsman, Malan has displayed occasional brilliance but has also struggled with consistency. However, his explosive potential is evident when he is at his best.
Adil Rashid
Once again, the ever-reliable Adil Rashid has been England's primary choice to stop the opposition's batting aggressiveness and capture key wickets, particularly during the crucial middle overs. Rashid has notched up six wickets in four matches in this World Cup and stands as the second most prolific bowler for the reigning champions, trailing only behind the injured Reece Topley.
Gus Atkinson
Gus Atkinson, who played only one match and bowled for nine overs, managed to take two wickets but gave away 60 runs in the process. He might be the solution to England's bowling needs. His upcoming contest against the effective Sri Lankan batters on Thursday could determine how the important game unfolds.
Sri Lankan Players to Watch
Dilshan Madushanka
To stop the English batsman from scoring, Sri Lanka is expected to bring in Dilshan Madushanka as their bowler. This left-arm fast bowler has been performing well in the tournament so far, taking 11 wickets in four matches, which is the second-best performance. In one of the matches, he took four wickets for 50 runs when they played against the Netherlands.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera Samarawickrama has been performing really well. The 28-year-old has had a standout tournament, scoring a total of 230 runs in four games. Notably, he scored 91 runs in one match against the Netherlands and 108 runs against Pakistan. So, he can replicate this against England.
Kusal Mendis
Mendis played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's first two games. He scored 76 runs off 42 balls in a challenging chase against South Africa and followed that with a hundred in just 65 balls against Pakistan. It's worth noting that he's one of the four remaining players in the Sri Lankan team who were part of the squad that caused an upset by defeating England at Headingley in the 2019 World Cup.
Final Words
October 26’s ODI match between England and Sri Lanka is expected to be a closely fought contest, as both teams have been dealing to uplift their ranking in the points table. As both teams have had their moments of success in the past, any of them can win the match. Not to mention, the ENG vs SL ODI match in the ICC World Cup 2023 would be quite interesting and is full of possibilities.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Shakib leaves team in India for personal practice sessions in Dhaka
Charged-up Netherlands decides to bat against struggling Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards won the toss and elected to bat against last-place Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup at Lucknow, India on Saturday.
It was the first of two matches Saturday. Defending champion England played South Africa in a later game at Mumbai.
The Dutch have momentum on their side after they stunned high-flying South Afric a by 38 runs at Dharamsala for their first points in the tournament four days ago. The men in orange rode on a brilliant half century from Edwards to rack up 245-8 against the Proteas in a rain-curtailed game.
World Cup 2023: Clinical Australia see off Pakistani challenge to enter top 4
The Netherlands then bowled out South Africa for 207 to record one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Cup as the seamers and spinners were well supported by some brilliant fielding.
Edwards hoped his unchanged side from the last game will put up another challenging total and put pressure on Sri Lanka, which made two changes from its last game.
Allrounder Dushan Hemantha replaced young left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage while fast bowler Kasun Rajitha returned in place of Lahiru Kumara.
World Cup 2023: Marauding opening stand sees Australia set formidable target for Pakistan
Sri Lanka lost captain Dasun Shanaka early in the tournament due to a thigh injury and is in last place after suffering three heavy losses against South Africa, Pakistan and Australia.
It is the first time since 1987 that Sri Lanka has lost its opening three games at the World Cup.
Without key legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, a weakened Sri Lanka bowling was smacked for 428 by South Africa in the opening game. Pakistan chased down a World Cup-record of 345 to beat Sri Lanka at Hyderabad and then Australia romped to five-wicket win over with 88 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka has a 5-0 record against the Netherlands and most recently beat the Dutch twice in World Cup qualifying in July.
___
Preview of ENG vs. SA ODI in ICC World Cup 2023
Lineups:
Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (captain), Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (captain), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
ICC World Cup 2023: Preview of AUS vs. SL ODI
Australia and Sri Lanka aim to secure their first victory in the 2023 Cricket World Cup as they meet in match 14 at Ekana Sports City in Lucknow on Monday, October 16, at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. After losing the first two matches, both teams understand the imperative nature of the situation, treating each subsequent game as a virtual knockout match to revive their World Cup campaign.
Preview of Australia vs. Sri Lanka ODI in the 2023 ICC World Cup
Team Australia did not start the competition well. They lost their first game to India, and it wasn't a good sign. But things got worse in their second match against South Africa. They didn't play well and lost by a huge margin of 134 runs.
The main problem for Australia has been with their batting. None of their main players have given their best yet. Surprisingly, no one from the team has scored fifty runs in any match so far.
Now, they are facing Sri Lanka, a team that beat them 3-2 the last time they played in June 2022. Looking at how Australia has played in the first two games, they really need to step up their game. If they don't give their best against Sri Lanka, their chances of moving to the next round might be in trouble even before the middle of the competition.
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On the other hand, even though Sri Lanka lost their first two matches in the tournament, it's worth acknowledging their efforts. In the first game, they faced a strong South African team that set a new record for the highest score in the ICC World Cup history, reaching 428/5 in 50 overs. Although Sri Lanka couldn't chase down this huge score, they managed to score 326 runs, which would have been a winning total on most other days.
Three days later, on October 10, Sri Lanka faced Pakistan and played excellent with the bat again, setting a target of 345. However, Pakistan managed to chase it down. Although Sri Lanka has been strong with their batting, they need to do better when it comes to bowling. They have only taken nine wickets in their last two matches.
Sri Lanka beat Australia in June 2022, and considering Australia's current struggles, Sri Lanka believe they have a good chance of winning this match and getting their first victory in the tournament.
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Team News
It's fair to say that Australia hasn't been the same without Usman Khawaja opening the innings. Trying Mitchell Marsh in that role hasn't worked well, as he has only scored seven runs in the competition so far. Because of this, Cummins might be thinking about bringing in Travis Head. This change could allow Marsh to move to the middle order, where he has performed well in recent months. Further, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and David Warner have had decent starts in the last two matches and are likely to stay in the team. However, the pressure is on them to score big in this upcoming game.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka has felt the absence of leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, who couldn't play in the World Cup due to a hamstring injury. In the last match, Matheesha Pathirana gave 90 runs in his nine overs. Because of this, Dasun Shanaka might consider giving Kasun Rajitha a chance as the first change bowling option in the upcoming game.
Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Records in ODI So Far
Australia and Sri Lanka have played each other in 103 ODI matches. Out of these, Australia has won 63 times, while Sri Lanka has emerged victorious on 36 occasions. Additionally, 4 matches concluded without a result.
Table: Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far
Matches
Australia Won
Sri Lanka Won
No Result
103
63
36
4
Probable Playing XI for Australia
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
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Probable Playing XI for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.
Key Australian Players to Watch
Marnus Labuschagne
Even though he's not in his best form, Marnus Labuschagne was the highest scorer with 46 runs for Australia in the last game and has the potential to play a substantial innings in the upcoming match. In India, Marnus has an average of 40 runs, showcasing his ability to adjust to challenging conditions. Moreover, he has scored 30 or more runs in five out of the last eight matches.
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc remains one of the premier ODI bowlers globally, known for his lethal toe-crushing yorkers and challenging left-arm swing that troubles batsmen. Against Sri Lanka, the fast bowler maintains an average of taking two wickets per match. He has played 14 matches against Sri Lanka and grabbed 27 wickets. Starc has a remarkable record in World Cups, being a specialist in the format, having secured an impressive 52 wickets in 20 tournament matches on the grandest stage.
Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa is the only designated spinner in Australia's World Cup squad. Since the tournament is taking place on spin friendly pitch, Australia’s performance will highly depend on Zampa’s bowling.
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Key Sri Lankan Players to Watch
Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis is currently in the best form of his career for Sri Lanka, scoring 122, 76, and 17 runs in his last three ODI innings. As a star player at the number three position, Mendis excels in the white ball format, displaying a skill for constructing his innings. His record for playing against Australia is evident, boasting an average of 50.33 runs across 11 matches against them.
Dilshan Madushanka
In the process of developing his career, Dilshan Madushanka is demonstrating notable consistency for the Sri Lankan team, securing two wickets in each of their World Cup games thus far. As a pace bowler, Madushanka possesses the ability to generate swing on the ball even during the latter part of the innings. Despite being underrated, he has maintained an average of two wickets per match over the past year in ODI.
Final Words
Australia has been in poor form, losing seven out of its last 10 ODI matches. They now face Sri Lanka, who have emerged victorious in three of the last five meetings between the two teams. While Sri Lanka have a good chance of winning this match, considering Australia's inconsistent form, it might be safer to consider the AUS vs. SL World Cup 2023 match is likely to be a closely contested match.
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