Sri Lanka on top after two dropped chances

Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, T20 World Cup 2021: Live Scorecard

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Meanwhile, the toss is done in Dubai and Pakistan are bowling first. Head over to the India v Pakistan live blog to catch more of the action from the big game tonight.

Sri Lanka win by five wickets

They lost a wicket, but this quite a turnaround from Sri Lanka. They thrashed the three oppositions in the first round and have given Bangladesh, and the rest of the teams, a timely remidner to simply not write them off. I think this win is huge in the context of this group. Sri Lanka’s bowling prowess was already on display in the recent matches. It is a huge bonus for them that their batting got a chance first up in the Super 12 to showcase what they could do.

Over 18: SL 163-4 – SL win confirmed, head over to the India – Pakistan toss

These two have made it a no-contest and if you aren’t ready to believe Sri Lanka has it in them to get out of this group, you still have time to change your opinion. Asalanka and Rajapaksa have put on a terrific stand to counter Bangladesh’s choking tactics and get Sri Lanka through. Well, almost.

22 runs off that Saifuddin over. Sri Lanka have smashed my predictions out through the window. Those two dropped chances will haunt Bangladesh.

Over 15.3: SL 142-4 – Get in birthday boy

I am instantly reminded of Yuvraj Singh’s fifth six in that over against Stuart Broad as Rajapaksa flicks one into the stands. He follows it up with a six and another four and Sri Lanka are hurrying towards their target.

Massive moment!

Bangladesh (read Liton Das) has shelled another catch. It is Asalanka now and this could really be costly for them. A wicket here would have definitely swung the game I think. Massive, massive moment in the game. In seven of his last eight games across formats against Sri Lanka, the Fizz has at least two wickets. Nearly gets one here. If only…

Here’s Mustafizur Rahman. Bangladesh have all eggs on this basket now…

Over 14: SL 121-4 – Massive over

Mahmudullah’s gamble to sneak in another over of his has backfired as Asalanka hits him for two sixes in a 16-run over. This is getting really interesting now. 51 from 36 balls. If Asalanka stays, Sri Lanka should breeze through to the target.

Update: Just as I type that, Rajapaksa smashed a six and then gets benefitted from a dropped catch in the deep. C’mon you guys, you don’t give a birthday boy chances. Asalanka, meanwhile, completes a rapid half-century, the knock that has kept Sri Lanka in this game.

Over 12: SL 90-4 – Slow going

The last four overs have yielded just 19 runs. Bangladesh are really tightening the screws and getting into their familiar rhythm. Having watched Bangladesh’s New Zealand and Australia series closely, I think they just have this knack of squeezing teams for runs and then picking up wickets. That’s working well so far.

Update: Make that three wickets for Bangladesh in the space of eight runs. Saifuddin into the act now just as I was wondering about Hasaranga’s crucial knocks under pressure. He’s played a few of them alright, but today won’t be one of those days. Birthday boy Bhanuka Rajapaksa isn’t hopefully too eager to blow the candles on this innings and gives Asalanka some company.

Over 8.4: SL 71-3 – No.41 for the all-rounder! Shakib REALLY didn’t like that.

He cleans up Avishka Fernando and Bangladesh are well and truly on top here again. Someone recently talked of Shakib and World Cups and here is the man doing it again with the pressure on his side.

Update: Scratch that bit about “best wicket-taker” because clearly Shakib took offence at it and breaks this partnership, throwing the game wide open again. He is now the highest wicket taker in T20 World Cups (40) going past Shahid Afridi.

Over 8: SL 71-1 – Bangladesh faced with a tricky decision

This is getting slightly tricky for bangladesh. They bowled Mustafizur for one over and it leaked 13, but clearly he is their best wicket-taker. Do they hold him back for the death where he is most effective or use him now to try and get a wicket and break this partnership that is in the 70s already?

Over 6: SL 54-1 – Asalanka gets Sri Lanka off to a flier

This is an excellent powerplay for Sri Lanka, all thanks to the intent shown by Charith Asalanka. He walked out with purpose and did not lt Nasum  settle down. Nissanka takes cue from him and does the same to Mahedi Hasan. It will still need these two to bat long, but Sri Lanka have quite a decent platform.

Over 3: SL 26-1 – If you haven’t noticed yet, Sri Lanka have a lot of players to watch out for

No, I mean it. There’s the impressive Wanindu Hasaranga, the excellent Dushmantha Chameera, the rapid Lahiru Kumara and then Charith Asalanka, who just tonked Nasum for two sixes in that over. Of course, the most exciting of them, Maheesh Theekshana, who went from an overweight teenager to the best off-spinner so far on display in the World Cup, is injured and not playing today. That’s a serious line of talent, and I haven’t even mentioned the whole list.

Word! He is no longer the joint-highest wicket-taker. He is THE highest powerplay wicket-taker in T20Is in 2021.

Back on and it is Nasum Ahmed

The powerplay specialist Nasum has the joint-most wickets (10) in the first six overs in T20Is in 2021. He is back in the Xi todo just that on a slow Sharjah wicket: do what he does in Bangladesh.

End of innings: Bangladesh finish on 171-4

That final ball sums up this innings. A cheeky scoop over fine leg for four to get into the 170s. I think Bangladesh have put on a formidable total here. If you are a Sri Lanka fan, be worried, very worried. This is the Group of Death and this game is as good as a knockout for these teams. Bangladesh know their way around these kind of tracks. Ask Australia and New Zealand. They just have too many in my opinion. Over to Sri Lanka now.

Over 19: BAN 159-4 – Another dramatic Kumara over

A wicket and a 144 kph beamer from Kumara in a pretty decent over, but he really is all over the place here. I think Sri Lanka got carried away by the aggression today and Bangladesh, mostly calm for a change, capitalised on it.

Update: That’s a fifty for Mushfiqur Rahim and it’s been a terrific knock. He took down Sri Lanka’s lead spinner, smashing him for 20 off 9 balls, and then batted on until they panicked. Not to blow my own trumpet, but he’s my fantasy team captain for today.

Over 17: BAN 140-3 – Bangladesh are taking off despite the wicket of Naim

It’s fascinating how Bangladesh turn up and become a different team on slow decks. This pitch is right up their alley and they are cruising to a huge total here. Three overs to go and 140 on the board with Rahim in full flow. Not a good look that for Sri Lanka.

Over 15: BAN 118/2 – Peak Mushfiqur

Wanindu Hasaranga has troubled the best players of spin, but Rahim does not bother giving him any respect. Earlier, he had slog swept him for a fabulous six. This over, he has creamed him for back-to-back fours. This is a stunning cameo from Rahim. On 34 off 22 balls and this could be a game-changing knock.

Over 13.4: BAN 103-2 – Naim gets to his second fifty in the tournament

Reminder that he did not start for Bangladesh in their loss to Scotland. He has since reeled off two fifties in three games. Is it me or is Lahiru  Kumara getting carried away by the whole aggression thingy? He was the best Sri Lankan quick on show in round one, but here he’s throwing a fit at everyone and the runs are flowing.

And as I type that, he has just picked up a slower ball and dispatched it into the stands…

Over 12: BAN 87-2 – Eyes on Mushfiqur

There was no sign of Dasun Shanaka the bowler in the three games in the first round. Here, the captain has brought himself on with Bangladesh starting to get away. Mushfiqur hasn’t quite set the T20 stage on fire of late, but it’s time he turned up. My gut feel says Rahim is going to bat till the end here.

Drinks: Despite all the drama from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have actually done quite well. The bowling ahs been sharp, but Bangladesh have kept it ticking with Mohammad Naim going into the 40s with no fuss.

Over 10: BAN 72-2 – Sri Lanka are really pumped up!

Someone’s just asked me the score, and I have duly directed them to the live streaming link. This game deserves an audience. Sri Lanka are truly pumped up here. Karunaratne just threw down the stumps with a quick throw on his follow through at the striker’s end. Not the first time we have seen that today. Not the first time it’s gone wrong either. The deflection off the stumps get Bangladesh a run.

Over 7.4: BAN 56-2 – Now then, Shakib’s gone

And Sri Lanka now get through Bangladesh’s main man. Shakib’s cleaned up by Chamika Karunaratne. Who will do all the fighting now? Not literally of course, although given Shakib’s recent history, that’s not so unlikely. In the last three games, Sri Lanka bowled out teams for 101, 96 and 44. The bowling attack is ruthless and it is showing.

Over 5.5: BAN 40/1 – A wicket and drama!!

What happened there? Probably that throw in the previous Kumara over turned Liton off. There’s some serious exchange of words and some heated conversation between Kumara and Das. Players have to be separated. Well, well, what did I tell you about these two teams? And now Shakib enters the storm, walks in at No.3 to ease things (not the fight surely?).

Over 4: BAN 29-0 – Bangladesh find momentum, and some drama already

The openers put on 0, 11 and 8 in the first round for Bangladesh, but here Mohammad Naim and Liton Das are adapting fast and making Sri Lanka pay for most of their errors. Lahiru Kumara clearly not liking it. He has a shy at the batter’s head after that last ball, apparently while aiming for the stumps. The bad news for Sri Lanka is that Dushmantha Chameera, the bowler tasked with ruffling a few Bangladesh feathers, was erratic in his first over, bowling two no balls and conceding 12 runs.

Over 2: BAN 9-0 – Battle lines drawn

It’s fairly evident what Sri Lanka are trying to do – bowling stumps-to-stump and using the extra pace of one quick and the height of other to keeo things tight. Just one boundary in the first two overs. Bangladesh might want to start pushing slwoly. Ease of soring at the venue does not get better later in the innings.

[caption id=”attachment_221871″ align=”alignleft” width=”737″] An emotional Mahmudullah at the time of the anthem[/caption]

Playing XI

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah (c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

Toss update: Sri Lanka win the toss and will bowl first

Sri Lanka opt to bowl first on the sluggish Sharjah deck. Mahmudullah seems more than happy to bat first. Interesting! Sri Lanka have also beefed up their pace stocks; Binura Fernando comes in at the expense of the injued spinner, Theekshana. Contrary to Sri Lanka’s tactics, Bangladesh have gone spin heavy, swapping Taskin for Nasum Ahmed, a powerplay specialist for them of late.

Right then, we are minutes away from the toss in this afternoon game on a Sunday. I know this isn’t the match you are waiting for today, but c’mon, give these teams a chance. One of them just beat Australia and New Zealand in T20I series’ at home. The other bowled out a formidable Associate team for 44 at this very ground a couple of days back. If you think this is going to be the less competitive game this Sunday, I beg to differ. I hope I am wrong, though.

The history

Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka only four times in T20Is. Two of those came in the last two meetings between these sides in the format, the second of which saw heated exchanges, Shakib Al Hasan walking off with his players and shattered glass. If that’s not motivation enough for Bangladesh, the fact that Sri Lanka, like them, made it to the Super 12 only after the qualifying round, should be encouraging. That said, Sri Lanka, particularly their bowling attack, has earned praise in the qualifying round. One of the chief architects of their great showing in the last week, Maheesh Theekshana, is battling a side strain and is unlikely to play this fixture if reports are to be believed. Is that Bangladesh’s chance?

T20 World Cup 2021 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh: Preview

Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earned qualification into the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup after a fine performance in the first round. While Sri Lanka topped Group A with six points, Bangladesh won two of their three matches and qualified as the second team from Group B.

Captain Dasun Shanaka on Sri Lanka’s chances

“They are sitting very good at the moment because after winning those qualifiers, they are on a winning momentum. It’s good for them, but still, we’ve got a better side, I think. We have a slightly better chance.”

T20 World Cup 2021 SL v BAN: Team news and injury updates

Sri Lanka might be without the services of Maheesh Theekshana for the game after he walked off the field on Friday due to a side strain. If the mystery spinner is not fit for the game, Akila Dananjaya could replace him in the XI.

T20 World Cup 2021 Sri Lanka squad: Full team list for SL

Bangladesh do not have any apparent injury concerns for the match and will head into the game high on confidence. In the absence of Tamim Iqbal, Naim Sheikh could be Liton Das’ opening partner for the clash.

T20 World Cup 2021 Bangladesh squad: Full team list for Ban

T20 World Cup 2021 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh: Where to watch live

India: Star Sports Network; Disney+ Hotstar

UK & Ireland: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix; Sky Sports app, www.skysports.com

Sri Lanka: Star Sports, Siyatha TV

Bangladesh: GTV, BTV and T-Sport

The complete list of broadcast (TV and live streaming) options for the tournament can be found here.