New Delhi: As Afghanistan qualified for the Super 4s after beating both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, now the latter two sides will fight for a spot ahead. Both teams stand equally and played almost equally poor cricket against the Afghan bowlers. With a qualifying chance at stake, both sides will look to improve their mistakes and outplay the opponent.
The rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh brewed in 2018 with all the Naagin Dance going on in the celebration. The intensity of the game between both sides has been quite good in the recent past. Taking an overview, both the teams have batters that can win matches but are failing to perform. While on the other hand, Bangladesh has a good pace attack led by Mustafizur Rahman and Sri Lanka has a better spin with Wanindu Hasaranga.
Sri Lanka
In the last game against Afghanistan, the team suffered a few early blows with Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissing two in a row. The team also got a bit unlucky with the controversial decision of Pathum Nissanka. But this cannot hide the fact that Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamika Karunaratne to some extent, every other batter looked in poor form. Kusal Mendis and captain Dasun Shanaka have to stand and lead from the front. Shanaka is in great form and can deliver an inning to qualify.
Sri Lanka has a great spin weapon in Hasaranga and looking at the game between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, he looks like a destructive resource. Meanwhile, over-dependence on spin has led to a failed pace attack for the team. Sri Lanka got to bowl only 3 overs of pace in the last game as Afghan batters finished the chase in just 10.1 overs.
Bangladesh
With wickets falling at regular intervals, it was Mossadek Hossain’s 48* off 31 balls that helped Bangladesh reach a total of 127 against Afghanistan. The batters need to have an answer to Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. With the experience and power-hitting ability of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmadullah, Bangladesh can put up a fight with the bat.
Bangladesh has a fine bowling attack with Fizzy and Taskin Ahmed handling the pace while Shakib and Mehedi Hasan keep a good economy with spin. If the Bangladeshi bowlers can strike by taking wickets, they can turn the game in their favour.
Conclusion
Both of the teams look equal in the analysis. They faced each other in the last Men’s T20 World Cup where Sri Lanka won the game with the help of Charith Asalanka’s 80*(49) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s 53*(31). Rajapaksa will be a player to look out for on the Sri Lankan side while one should keep an eye on Mossadek’s performance among the Bangladeshi players.
