Daily Times

SYLHET: It had begun so well. Bangladesh may still have been stinging from Chandika Hathurusingha’s surprise exit, but in the first three matches of the tri-nations ODI series, they stomped both oppositions, and appeared as if no side was capable of so much as challenging them in home conditions. Then came the 10-wicket thumping in Mirpur. Since then, in five matches against Sri Lanka (across formats), Bangladesh have lost four and drawn one. The absence of Shakib Al Hasan – due to injury – has been telling. Sunday’s T20 is their last chance to restore a degree of respectability to the affair. With Tamim Iqbal set to return to the top of the order after missing Thursday’s game, and the top order firing in any case, the batting appears to be stable. Much will depend on how a young, largely inexperienced Bangladesh attack can contend with a suddenly-confident Sri Lanka batting order. On Thursday, the visitors ran down Bangladesh’s highest-ever T20 score inside 17 overs. Sri Lanka are not a world-beating limited-overs side yet, though. There are holes in their batting order – Bangladesh must only work out how to exploit them. For the visitors, the pressure is off. They have already performed better on this tour than expected, especially as they had begun the trip with a loss to Zimbabwe. A victory to seal the T20 series would be further indication that Hathurusingha is setting the side back on track. Tougher examinations await, but with Sri Lanka snapping an eight-match T20 losing streak on Thursday, early signs appear healthy.

In the spotlight: Mushfiqur Rahim has had a modest tour. In 10 innings going back to the start of the tri-series, he has only crossed fifty three times. As his 66 off 44 on Thursday demonstrated, however, Bangladesh’s batting appears exponentially stronger when he is productive. He had, in fact, been one of the primary contributors to Bangladesh’s excellent tour of Sri Lanka last year. In the continued absence of Shakib, Bangladesh will look to Mushfiqur to carry the middle order again on Sunday. In the ODI series Kusal Mendis had been unconvincing, but he batted himself into form on a flat Chittagong Test-match pitch, and has now produced his first outstanding T20 innings, hitting 53 off 27 balls on Thursday. Few would have picked him for an opener, but that is a role he has flourished in over the past few weeks. Prior to his injury, Kusal Perera had probably been slated to open alongside Danushka Gunathilaka, but if Mendis produces another good innings on Sunday, he will probably keep that position in the Nidahas Trophy next month.

Team news: Tamim’s return to fitness is the good news for Bangladesh. Zakir Hasan is likely to make way for him in the opening slot. Sabbir Rahman’s continued poor form could see him make room for Mohammad Mithun, while Abu Jayed and Mahedi Hasan could also get chances by replacing Mohammad Saifuddin and Rubel Hossain. Sri Lanka are likely to field the same XI, though perhaps it is possible that Asitha Fernando will come in for Shehan Madushanka.

Published in Daily Times, February  18^th 2018.