Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Who is the Favourite to Win?

Both teams will be desperate for a win as they’re lingering at the bottom of the points table. Even if they don’t make it to the final four, they will look to end their tour to India with some wins.

Sri Lanka have had their fair share of trouble with Bangladesh players though.

They have been separated on the ground, have had verbal spats in the field and that creates drama for their battle.

It first started when Bangladesh players did the Nagin Dance after beating Lanka in a game. SL soon got their revenge with a win over the Bengal Tigers and performed the same dance steps in front of the Bangladesh players and supporters.

This sparked heat between both sides and since then, their matches have been nothing short of entertainment and passion in the field.

Both teams give their everything to make sure they come out on top.

This world cup, both of the sides have not been playing their best cricket.

Bangladesh are ninth in the points table with just one win in their last seven matches, having lost their last game with a huge margin to Pakistan.

SL have won just twice in six games which has them on the seventh spot in the table, on the verge of elimination from the world cup.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Head-to-head record

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have played 53 games against each other. SL emerged as the winners 42 times and Bangladesh won nine games only.

This shows that Sri Lanka has been dominating Bangladesh for a long while.

In ODI world cups, SL has won three of the four games they’ve played together. One game ended without a result, meaning Bangladesh are yet to beat SL in a 50-over world cup game.

Players to keep an eye on

Despite not having much success in the tournament, both sides have had some players that have shown that they stand head and shoulders above their team members.

Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka, Pathum Nissanka, and Kusal Mendis have shown grit whenever the situation gets tough for the team.

As for Bangladesh, captain Shakib Al Hasan has been scoring important runs in the late overs with Mahmudullah adding to the cause as well. Mehidy Hasan has also been a brilliant addition to the team.

Madushanka

Dilshan Madushanka has been a surprise package for everyone in this world cup. He has always been an elite left-arm fast bowler but he has upped the ante this time around.

With his variations, the SL bowler has the ability to trap even the batters that are set on the wicket. His pacey bouncers, inswingers with the new ball and cutters make him a potent threat for any batting line-up in the world.

His wicket of Rohit Sharma in the Thursday match showed how well he can ball with the new ball as he rattled Sharma’s stumps with a peach of a delivery. 

He went on to take four wickets for SL in the game, and was the only bowler in the team who showed how to bowl on a wicket that supports the batters.

His wickets were Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. His sharp bouncers have been on-point as well, which we saw against Imam ul Haque in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka showdown early in this world cup.

If he continues to be this good, Sri Lanka will not have a hard time reducing Bangladesh to a small total.

Shakib

Captain Shakib Al Hasan has been a decent performer so far for his team, scoring small, but important runs in his late cameos. However, he is yet to make a huge impact with his performance.

A match-winning knock is still due from the skipper who is representing his country in the Bangladesh jersey for one final time.

He’s been taking wickets here and there, fielding decently and playing good cameos, but we have not quite seen the vintage Shakib yet who used to change games single-handedly.

This is perhaps, because he is not getting much support from the other end as well.

When Bangladesh field well, they bowl horrible, and when they restrict oppositions to a mediocre total, they lose their top order quite early and lose the run chase.

The skipper will have to take charge up front and make an impact to save some grace for himself and his team.

Nissanka

Patthum Nissanka has scored a whopping four half centuries for Sri Lanka this tournament, equalled with Virat Kohli.

He has consistently been giving rock-solid starts to the Lankans, which his side has not really been able to capitalize on most occasions.

Sri Lanka will need him to give them a quick start once again.

Mahmudullah

This world cup is most likely to be Mahmudullah’s  last ODI world cup as well. The veteran Bangladesh all-rounder has been batting supremely in the middle-order, but lack of batting quality from the other end does not help him on the wicket.

He is Bangladesh’s only centurion in this tournament.

The Tigers have banked on him throughout the mega event and he has delivered the goods almost every time.

If he gets going once again on Monday, the Lankans may have some trouble keeping him in check.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Match Prediction

Both teams are seemingly struggling to make an impression at the mega event, but Sri Lanka have a slightly more balanced side as compared to Shakib and co.

They have shaken up bowling attacks like South Africa and Pakistan, thanks to their in-form openers.

On the other hand, Bangladesh have not looked threatening in any department. Their batting has been mediocre and bowling has been extremely average as well.

Sri Lanka have an edge walking into the Monday game against their arch-rivals.