Afghanistan has already become the first team from Group B to qualify for the next stage of the 2022 Asia Cup after winning their both group fixtures. It will be legendary combat between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as the final ticket for the Super Four round will be on the line this Thursday. The do-or-die encounter between two Group B participants will be held at the scenic venue of Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Just like the previous edition, the same two outfits are up against each other once again in the decider encounter. Both of them are reputed sides in continental cricket as Sri Lanka is the second-most decorated nation in Asia Cup while Bangladesh has featured in three out of four previous finals. The Men from Ceylon are acquainted with Dubai conditions after playing the first game on the same ground meanwhile, the Green and Reds have arrived at this venue for the first time in this edition.
Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka was handed over his first international cap however, the 21-year-old couldn’t impress much as he got the opportunity to bowl only a single over. Skipper Dasun Shanaka and the team management fielded their strongest eleven having a blend of experience yet ended up on the losing side. The bowling department needs to be strengthened but multiple changes can also break the settled combination.
Bangladesh also attempted to field their strongest eleven in the last game and should not have any second thoughts as a consequence of the result. The absence of Sabbir Rahman from the battlefield generated a buzz however, he may make a comeback in this decider fixture. Sabbir can make his way to the Bangla lineup in place of Mohammad Naim and can be seen opening the innings if makes it there.
What have they done so far?
Sri Lanka suffered an embarrassing fate at the hands of Afghanistan in the opening Group B fixture of Asia Cup 2022. The Lankan batters couldn’t stand upfront the wrath of Afghan bowlers and got all-out on the minimal team total of 105 sparing three balls in the 20-over innings. The bowling unit of the Blues also had a disastrous day at the office as Afghanistan went on to chase the target in the eleventh over itself.
Bangladesh couldn’t stand upfront the wrath of Najibullah Zadran
Bangladesh was in a commanding position in their previous fixture against Afghanistan where they were considered favourites to win the contest at one point. The Bangla bowling unit did a commendable job in the first half of the second innings where they held the Afghan Army at 65 for three at the end of the thirteenth over. But then the storm called Najibullah Zadran crashed the Green camp and snatched the victory from the paws of the Tigers.
Head to Head record
The Lankan Lions are currently in a cruising position in this rivalry with eight wins while the Bangla Tigers have emerged victorious in only four out of twelve meetings. The two Asian combatants have faced each other in a neutral venue only twice and both of them were won by the boys in Blue outfits. Bangladesh also had a toss winning streak which lasted for 11 games before it was broken in their previous face-off.
The most recent chapter of this rivalry happened in the group stages of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup where Sri Lanka won the toss for the first time ever and also went on to win the game. In the first innings, half-centuries from the young opener Mohammad Naim and the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim helped the Green and Reds to post a competitive total of 171. The chasing team easily achieved the target in the fifth delivery of the 19th over having five wickets in hand.
The last these two nations squashed in the shortest format of the continental stage was a group stage fixture of the 13th edition, back in 2016. It was Bangladesh’s second fixture of that tournament in which they sidelined Sri Lanka from the finals race and went one step closer to the final qualification. Bangladesh successfully defended the first innings total of 147 to register their first-ever T20I victory over Sri Lanka and Sabbir Rahman who played a heroic stand of 80 runs off 54 balls was adjudged Player of the Match.
Key Players
Wanindu Hasaranga: The spin-wizard was the only bowler from the Lanka camp who bagged a wicket in their previous fixture. Hasaranga bowled three overs against Afghanistan and dismissed the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz while giving away only 19 runs at an economy rate of 6.3 per over.
Wanindu Hasaranga, a key to success for the Lankan Lions
The 25-year-old leg-break bowler remained wicketless when faced the Bangla Tigers at the T20 World Cup which was also his only appearance against the Green and Reds in the shortest format.
Mosaddek Hossain: The maturity of the 26-year-old bowling all-rounder against Afghanistan was their brightest outcome from that lost fixture. Mosaddek arrived at the crease when Bangladesh was five down on the score 53 and then went to play an unbeaten knock of 48 off 31 balls to take them to a respectable total.
He not only saved the Green and Reds from a batting crisis but also dismissed the danger-man Hazratullah Zazai and gave away just 12 runs from bowled 2.3 over.
Predicted Playing XIs
Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
Bangladesh: Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin
Prediction
It is quite difficult to predict the winner of this combat as both of them are currently standing on equal chances. It is the battle of survival hence we can expect them to play their hearts out to keep themselves alive in the competition.
The advantage of emerging victorious in their most recent face-off can favour the Lankan Lions meanwhile, the Bangla Tigers will also leave no stone unturned to advance to the next stage.