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Fresh off a win in the first game, Bangladesh are set to host Sri Lanka for the second match of the series in Dhaka on the 25th of May.
Half-centuries from experienced heads – Tamim Iqbal (52), Mushfiqur Rahim (84) and Mahmudullah (54) – helped Bangladesh set a fighting total of 257/6 in 50 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
In the second half, stand-out spells from off-spinner Mehidy Hasan (4/30) and unorthodox left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3/34) allowed the hosts to dismiss the visitors for just 224 in 48.1 overs, 33 runs shy of the victory post.
The win earned Bangladesh 10 crucial points towards the ongoing ICC Super League and further put a dent in Sri Lanka’s chances of qualifying directly for the 2023 World Cup in India.
Another win will give Bangladesh the series honours and also almost put Sri Lanka out of the race to finish within the top 8 teams in the Super League. Therefore, the second ODI in Dhaka carries so much more context and importance for both sides.
Key Players
Mushfiqur Rahim proved in the opening game on Sunday why he is regarded as one of Bangladesh’s strongest pillars, their ever-dependable cog across formats. Mushfiqur played a magnificent knock of 84 from 87 balls to set up a fighting total for Bangladesh, which they later successfully defended. It wasn’t the first time Mushfiqur has transformed a game and tilted it in Bangladesh’s favour with his willow. The experienced right-hand batsman has been especially outstanding for his team in the last five years and will be looking to continue in his rich vein of form on Tuesday.
Shakib Al Hasan missed out with the bat in his comeback match at the Shere Bangla but made up for it with an economical ten-over spell of 1/44 in the second half. Shakib has been fantastic over the years for Bangladesh and is inarguably their greatest-ever cricketer. The premier all-rounder will be raring to go with the series honours and crucial Super League points up for grabs in the second one-dayer. Shakib has now made 6,451 runs from 210 ODI games at an average of 37.94 and strike-rate of 82.18. He has also taken 267 wickets at 29.77 runs per piece with an economy rate of 4.45.
Mehidy Hasan has quietly become a vital cog in Bangladesh’s wheels. The young off-spinner delivered a game-defining spell of 4/30 in the first one-dayer. It was Hasan who jolted Sri Lanka hard right at the beginning of their innings and picked up important wickets in his 10-over spell. Hasan has now taken 51 wickets from his 48 ODIs for Bangladesh with an economy rate of 4.46, which for a finger-spinner in modern-day limited-overs cricket is eye-catching.
Wanindu Hasaranga has quite quickly made a name for himself despite being part of a struggling Sri Lankan side in white-ball cricket. The inexperienced spin bowling all-rounder has been making notable performances in either department for Sri Lanka. Hasaranga was his team’s stand-out performer even in the last match, where he delivered a miserly spell of 0/48 and backed it up with a stellar knock of 74 off 60 deliveries. Amidst their doom and gloom, Hasaranga provided Sri Lanka with a glimmer of hope at one stage.
Danushka Gunathilaka is another of Sri Lanka’s most crucial players. The left-hand opening batsman has gradually piled on an impressive ODI record to his name. Gunathilaka has now made 1,457 runs from his 42 ODIs at an average of 36.42 and strike-rate of 87.35. His tally includes two centuries and ten half-centuries. Gunathilaka missed out in the last match but was Sri Lanka’s top run-maker in their 3-0 defeat in the Caribbean earlier in the year. He will be looking for a big score and help Sri Lanka bounce back in the series.
Prediction
Bangladesh showed in the last match that, albeit a still-developing team, they are a very dangerous side in home conditions where their bowlers enjoy grip and turn off the deck, and they are able to make up for their issues. For Sri Lanka, defeat in the last match was a grim reminder of their own problems in all departments of the game amid an unprecedented and unarrested decline.
The visitors will require a collectively better performance if they are to take the fight to the rejuvenated hosts, who will be feeling buoyed following a long-awaited international victory after their disastrous trip to New Zealand.
Expect Bangladesh to ride on the wave of their regained confidence in familiar terrain towards another victory and go 2-0 up in the three-match series.
