SL vs BAN | Second ODI Preview: Bangladesh batters eye improved batting show to notch up first win on tour

‌Bangladesh will search for their first win of the tour when they take the field at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Saturday. After losing the two-match Test series 1-0 last month, the Tigers started the ODI leg with a 77-run loss against the hosts at the same venue.

Bangladesh did a decent job in restricting Sri Lanka to 244 in the first ODI before a shocking meltdown saw them slip from a comfortable 100/1 in the 17th over to 105/8 four overs later. The pace duo of Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib picked up four and three wickets, respectively, to provide Bangladesh with a good chance of registering a win at the halfway stage. However, the entire middle and lower order, but for Jaker Ali, crumbled under pressure as they got out after registering single-digit scores.

Tanzid Hasan and Jaker’s batting were the positives in an otherwise miserable batting display from the visitors that saw them surrender without a fight. Tanzid scored an attacking half-century that came at less than run a ball while Jaker’s fifty was the saving grace helping the Tigers to go past the 150-run mark.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had a clinical outing in the last game with the spin pair of Wanindu Hasaranga and Kamindu Mendis striking together after skipper Charith Asalanaka’s century. The duo, along with Maheesh Theekshana, accounted for eight Bangladesh batters to trigger the collapse and pocket the contest.

The Bangladesh batters will have to come up with a collective display to sail over their disappointing outing in the first game and register their first win on the tour.

Form Guide

SL Form: LWWWW

BAN Form: LLLAL

SL vs BAN head-to-head in ODIs

Sri Lanka has dominated Bangladesh in ODIs with 44 wins from a total of 58 matches between both teams. Meanwhile, Bangladesh have won 12 matches with two being abandoned without a result. However, the Tigers have matched their fancied opponents toe to toe in the last ten duels from 2021 onwards, winning five of them.

SL 44 - 12 BAN

Pitch and Conditions

The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is expected to continue on the slower side aiding the spin bowlers more for the second ODI. With spinners calling the shots in the last five ODIs at this venue picking up 57 of the total 86 wickets taken by bowlers, Sri Lanka is expected to continue with the mantra of 'spin it to win it’. The home side has been dominant at the venue winning all their last five games, restricting oppositions with spin after putting runs on the board with the 250-run mark breached only once in the last 10 batting innings.

It will be a cloudy afternoon with some rain in Colombo with the temperatures expected to be around 32 degrees before cooling down to 27 degrees at night. The chances of rain are at 55% as the match starts but will go up to 91% later in the day with spells of rain expected to stop proceedings in the middle and delay the outcome.

Team News

Sri Lanka may be tempted to bring in another spinner in Dunith Wellalage or Jeffrey Wandersay in place of Milan Rathnayake after the tweakers’ heroic show in the last game. However, Bangladesh are expected to play with the same team despite their batting horrors in the last match.

SL Expected XI

Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando 

BAN Expected XI

Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Jaker Ali, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Broadcasting Platforms 

The SL vs BAN second ODI will be digitally streamed on the FanCode and SonyLiv apps and websites in India with the telecast of the same on the Sony Sports Network from 2:30 PM IST on Saturday.