Two days before the second ODI, Sri Lanka’s new coach Paul Farbrace said Thisara Perera would not have to rescue the team again in the near future. In one short sentence, Farbrace backed his batting line-up, which had slipped to 67 for 8 in the first ODI.Bangladesh can be sure too that Sri Lanka will not give them two golden opportunities in the same game again. Once Mushfiqur Rahim did not prevent the visitors’ recovery, Perera and Sachithra Senanayake helped Sri Lanka reach 180. Bangladesh, however, were 114 for 2 inside 20 overs to the delight of the crowd, but lost eight wickets for 53 runs. Clumsy running and poor shot selection made them go 0-1 down in the series.
Bangladesh will want senior players like Mushfiqur and Shakib Al Hasan to take more batting responsibility, particularly if Tamim Iqbal continues to remain sidelined with a neck strain. The top half of Sri Lanka’s order also has much work to do to find form ahead of the Asia Cup.
Victory in Mirpur will complete Sri Lanka’s set of trophies in all formats on this tour; Bangladesh will be desperate to keep their only chance of silverware alive.
Form guide
(Completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LWWWL
Sri Lanka WWLLW
Watch out for
Shamsur Rahman impressed during his 62 in the first ODI. He played an array of back-foot shots – square drives, square cuts, an upper cut and a swivel pull – to score his second fifty. His needless run-out, however, started the Bangladesh collapse so there should a little more care to his innings in the second game.
Angelo Mathews called the first ODI victory a dream come true. He didn’t bat like a dream but claimed three wickets with his medium pace. He was steady, and ensured Sri Lanka remained disciplined with the ball and in the field. Mathews will be expected to make more all-round contributions.
Team news
Mashrafe Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal have still not recovered from their injuries, so their selection will be last-minute decisions. Al-Amin Hossain could make way for Mashrafe while Mahmudullah’s two-ball duck will be counted against him if Tamim is deemed fit. If Mushfiqur Rahim decides to keep wicket, Naeem Islam might get a look in ahead of Anamul Haque.
Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shamsur Rahman, 3 Anamul Haque (wk)/Naeem Islam, 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Sohag Gazi, 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Al-Amin Hossain/Mashrafe Mortaza, 11 Rubel Hossain
Sri Lanka will be forced to make one change to their eleven from the first ODI after Nuwan Kulasekara was rueld out with a groin injury two days ahead of the second game. The batting line-up requires another shot at the Bangladesh attack before anyone is jettisoned.
Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Ashan Priyanjan, 6 Kithuruwan Vithanage, 7 Angelo Mathews (capt), 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Sachithra Senanayake, 11 Lasith Malinga.
Pitch and conditions
Overnight rain and overcast conditions spiced up the Mirpur pitch a little, but it has been dry and sunny in the region since the first ODI. The surface is likely to be slow and low.
Stats and trivia
Naeem Islam was Bangladesh’s highest scorer in their previous ODI series – 163 runs at 54.33 against New Zealand – but he was not selected for the first ODI against Sri Lanka.
Thisara Perera’s unbeaten 80 was the third highest score at No. 9 in ODIs, after Andre Russell’s 92 and Darren Sammy’s 84.
