In a gripping cricket showdown, Sri Lanka stands on the brink of ODI history, needing just one more win to secure their place in the annals of the sport. If they manage to conquer Bangladesh in today’s Asia Cup Super-Four clash, they will stake their claim as the team with the second-longest winning streak in the ODI format. The only outfit to boast a more extended streak is the iconic Australian team of 2003, which notched up an awe-inspiring 21 consecutive victories. Presently, Sri Lanka is locked in a tie with Pakistan (12 wins in 2007-08) and South Africa (12 wins in 2005 and again in 2016-17).
For Bangladesh, however, the stakes have never been higher. After a demoralizing seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the Super 4 opener in Lahore, they find themselves in a precarious must-win situation against the formidable Sri Lankan side. Their fate now hinges not only on their performance but also on the unpredictable weather, which could influence the outcome of this critical match. Another loss here could spell the untimely end of their Asia Cup campaign, piling immense pressure on this already high-stakes fixture.
The primary concern plaguing the Bangladesh team is their inconsistency with the bat, a vulnerability that demands immediate attention if they aspire to challenge Sri Lanka. During the group stage, Bangladesh displayed their batting prowess by amassing an impressive 334 for 5 against Afghanistan, courtesy of stellar centuries by Najmal Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. However, their performance dipped against the superior bowling attacks of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, resulting in modest totals of 164 and 193, respectively. This inconsistency against top-tier opponents looms large as they brace themselves to take on Sri Lanka, a side equipped with a formidable bowling lineup featuring the likes of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, both capable of inflicting substantial damage.
Sri Lanka’s bowling might was on full display in recent matches, with pacer Kasun Rajitha playing a pivotal role in their narrow victory over Afghanistan on September 5, despite conceding a substantial number of runs.