Bangladesh face off Sri Lanka in 'do or die' contest

Bangladesh lost the first match by 77 runs at the same venue after experiencing a sensational collapse that saw them lost seven wickets for five runs in 26 balls. The horror incident was hard to fathom for not only the fans but for also the cricketers.

"I was chilling in the dressing room with a coffee, and suddenly, five wickets down." Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin summed up how the incident caught him by surprise.

"Hopefully, we will come back stronger in the next game, and everyone will learn from the mistakes."

Chasing a modest target of 245, Bangladesh was well placed with 100-1 in 16.2 overs before the rote began. It all started with the run-out dismissal of Najmul Hossain Shanto who went for an unlikely second run.
Wanindu Hasaranga then struck twice in his first over dismissing Liton Das, giving him his eight straight single digit figure and Bangladesh's top-scorer Tanzid Hasan Tamim who made 61 ball-62.

Kamindu Mendis joined Hasaranga to further derail the visitors but the dismissal of Tanzid was something that left Bangladesh panic-stricken, said Taskin Ahmed who was key (four wickets for 47 runs) in wrapping up Sri Lanka for just 244 in an otherwise a pretty flat surface.

"After that great start, we were a bit relaxed. Everything was going our way, and suddenly, that run-out and one of our set batters, Tanzid HasanTamim, got out. Then we panicked a bit," Taskin said. 

"We didn't play our natural game, and under pressure, we collapsed. Stats-wise, this is a very low-scoring ground, especially if you bat second, and there is a high chance you lose the game. Still, this game was in our hands, and we could have done a bit better," he added.

Taskin, however, stressed stressing the need for Bangladesh to improve their game awareness when they take on Sri Lankan in the second ODI for series-leveling victory.

"It's important for us to improve our game awareness. It is imperative if we want to stay alive in the series."

"These are our best 15-20 players. Maybe in bowling and batting combined, and with game awareness, we are a bit behind the top teams. We are trying to improve that with a good environment and culture."

As per stat, the two teams met 58 times in ODI format with Sri Lanka winning 44 of them. Bangladesh won just 12 and the rest of the two matches were washed out.

Bangladesh is currently on seven-match losing streak, having won their last match against Afghanistan in a three-match series last year. However, they eventually lost the series to Afghanistan by 2-1. Thereafter they got whitewashed in a three-match series against West Indies, also in the last year before losing to India and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy this year.

Bangladesh's ODI record on Sri Lankan soil is dismal one. They last played a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2019, which the hosts swept with ease. Last Bangladesh played two more ODIs against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup, held in 2023 and lost those two matches also.

Bangladesh are likely to tinker with the playing squad in a bid to level the series with Mustafizur Rahman who got cramped in the first match looked bit uncertain starter.

After beating teams like Australia and India, Sri Lanka certainly aim to another series victory. They are unlikely to bring up any chances to the squad, reports BSS. 

Bangladesh: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Liton Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Patwari, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud.

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake*, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga.