Sports Reporter :
Spirited Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in the third and final One Day International (ODI) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in the city’s Mirpur today. The match begins at 1.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). Private satellite sports channel T Sports and private satellite channel GTV will telecast the match live from the ‘ Home of Cricket’.
Bangladesh are waiting to whitewash their neighbour Sri Lanka after crushing them in today’s match. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will try to avoid whitewash from the Red-and-Green outfit.
Earlier, Bangladesh registered an easy 33-run victory over Sri Lanka in their first ODI at the SBNCS on May 23.
Then the hosts posted a massive 103-run win over the islanders in their second ODI at the same venue on May 25.
Bangladesh collected 40 points in ICC ODI World Cup Super League. If Bangladesh earn 10 points in today’s match it will be helpful for Bangladesh to play directly in ICC World Cup 2023.
Bangladesh players are now in a good shape. ‘Mr Dependable’ Mushfiqur Rahim, ‘Mr Finisher’ Mahmudullah Riyad, dashing opener Tamim Iqbal got runs. Mushfiq hit a marvelous 84 in the first ODI, while the ace batsmen notched up a match-winning 125 runs in the second ODI. ‘Mr Finisher’ made fine 54 in the first ODI, while he hit a polished 41 in the second ODI.
Dashing opener Tamim Iqbal hit a superb 52 in the first ODI, while he scored 13 runs in the second ODI.
Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz captured four wickets at the cost of 30 runs in the first ODI, while claimed three wickets in the space of 28 runs in the second ODI.
‘Cutter Boy’ Mustafizur Rahman grabbed three wickets instead of 24 runs in the first ODI, while the left-arm pacer plucked three wickets for just 16 runs in the second ODI.
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket conceding 44 runs in the first ODI, while the left-arm spinner bagged two wickets for 38 runs in the second ODI.
Weather forecast: Overcast conditions and more rain interruptions are likely in Dhaka on Friday. While there shouldn’t be too much rain as the game progresses, heavy showers could delay the start of the match. It should remain a hot and humid day, with the average temperature hovering around 32 degrees Celsius.
Ace batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said, “I think Tamim and Shakib score regularly and as they had a bad day, players like Liton, Afif and Mossadek should have grabbed the opportunity. If there are seven to eight performers it becomes easy.”
Batting Coach of Sri Lanka Grant Flower said, “When I see my boys playing in the net they look really good. They’re playing with freedom. But when I see my players out in the middle, it’s different – there’s pressure. A lot of the guys are freezing.”
Squads:
Sri Lanka squad : Kusal Perera (Captain), Kusal Mendis , Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Niroshan Dickwella, Dushmantha Chameera, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando.
Bangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Naim Sheikh.
