Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 15th Match
A quick glance at Group D ahead of the World Cup made it clear that South Africa was the overwhelming favorite to advance to the Super 8s. They lived up to that expectation in their opening match, decisively defeating former champions Sri Lanka, who were bowled out for just 77 on a treacherous pitch. This low total has significantly impacted Sri Lanka's net run rate.
Now, Sri Lanka cannot afford another slip-up. This group also includes Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Nepal. While it was expected that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would compete for the second Super 8 spot, the Netherlands and Nepal are no pushovers. Even for a team with a strong record against lower-ranked sides, nothing is guaranteed in this format, as demonstrated by the USA's surprising performance yesterday.
Sri Lanka's next challenge is against a familiar rival, Bangladesh, who have been closely observing the tournament's patterns. Bangladesh has yet to play a game and has been striving to make a mark in T20 cricket, having made significant progress in ODIs over the last decade. Starting their campaign against a team with a fragile batting lineup might be advantageous for Bangladesh.
Given that Bangladesh's batters are also low on confidence, they might hope for a challenging surface. They enter this match after a headline-making series loss to the United States, but considering the USA's performance against Pakistan, Bangladesh might deserve some leniency.
Match Details:
- Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
- Time: 12:30 AM GMT (June 8), 7:30 PM local time, 6:00 AM IST (June 8)
- Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
What to Expect:
There have been three games at this venue so far, yielding varied results: a high-scoring game, a low-scoring one, and a match where both teams finished around a par score of 160.
Team Watches:
Sri Lanka:
While Sri Lanka might avoid making drastic changes, introducing Dhananjaya de Silva in place of Kamindu Mendis for added stability could be beneficial.
Tactics & Matchups: Charith Asalanka's presence during the death overs is crucial due to his impressive record against Mustafizur Rahman, striking at 172 without being dismissed.
Probable XI: Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
Bangladesh:
Concerns linger over Litton Das' form, but he might still get an extended run. Shoriful Islam's fitness is a significant issue as he races against time to be fit for this match.
Tactics & Matchups: Litton Das' batting position is a question, especially after Tanzid and Soumya's century stand in the final T20I against the USA. Angelo Mathews, who bowled with the new ball against South Africa, has an excellent record against Litton in this format.
Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman
Did you know?
- Sri Lanka have lost four of their last five matches in the T20 World Cup.
- Shakib Al Hasan is four wickets away from becoming the second bowler to take 150 wickets in men's T20Is, following New Zealand's Tim Southee, who has 157.
Quotes:
"We watched a lot of matches on television and from the morning we watched the match here. So, I think it will be better than the wicket we had in New York. But we mostly get used to pitches, and there will be a challenge tomorrow. We have already discussed it, and we are well prepared for it." - Sri Lanka's batting coach Thilina Kandamby on the surface.
Squads:
Bangladesh Squad: Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Jaker Ali, Tanzid Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Mahesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera
