Kumar Sangakkara, fresh from his second hundred in a week, will be Bangladesh's main threat.
Match facts
Monday, June 30, 2008Start time 16.00 (local), 10.00 (GMT)
Big Picture
Bangladesh have their backs to the wall after losing their previous encounter to India, and are now in a must-win situation against Sri Lanka to have a shot at qualifying for the finals. An encouraging batting display against Indian - setting a target of 284 - proved that they were not pushovers in the Super Four but their bowlers and fielders failed back the efforts of the batsmen. India sailed to an easy victory and Bangladesh's inability to push the opposition to the brink reflects negatively on their net run-rate which stands at - 0.894. Against an in-form Sri Lanka, they'll be well aware that nothing less than 300 is a safe score, especially on surfaces which offer little respite to the bowlers.
A win for Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will seal their place in the final. They have already beaten Bangladesh in the group stage - their batsmen piled on 357 for 9 to set up an emphatic 131-run win. This will be Sri Lanka's second match in as many days, but Mahela Jayawardene wasn't perturbed, stating tough schedules were the norm in international cricket.
Form guide
(Last 5 completed ODIs; most recent first)
Sri Lanka WWWLL
Bangladesh LLWLL
Watch out for ...
Alok Kapali's whirlwind 115 off 97 balls at No. 6 against the Indians was easily his most convincing performance with the bat since breaking into the team in 2002. His power hitting in the slog overs made India sweat it out and for a change, gave Bangladesh a big cushion of runs to work with.
Kumar Sangakkara has two centuries already in the tournament, including one in the last meeting against Bangladesh. However, he got a duck in the match following that hundred and Bangladesh will hope to dismiss him early after his match-winning 112 against Pakistan on Sunday.
Ajantha Mendis didn't pick up any wickets in the last meeting with Bangladesh, but he has gone on to scalp nine in the next two matches. It will take some doing to prevent him from bagging a wicket.
Team news
Sri Lanka will face a tough choice. They might rest a few players given it's the second of back-to-back games and that they face weaker opponent, but Jayawardene would also want to seal their berth in the final as soon as possible. Veterans Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan were given a break against UAE, but Sri Lanka may avoid resting them tomorrow.
Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 3 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 4 Chamara Kapugedera, 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Chaminda Vaas, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Thilan Thushara 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.
Bangladesh have retained the same XI that played India on Saturday. However, they will need to pick up on their fielding - both Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir earned a reprieve each during their seven-wicket loss to India.
Bangladesh 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Nazimuddin, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Alok Kapali, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Farhad Reza, 9 Shahadat Hossain, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Mashrafe Mortaza
Stats and trivia
# The year 2007 had just two instances of Bangladesh batsmen making centuries, but since March this year, four have already been scored. Tamim Iqbal's 129 against Ireland broke the drought, followed by hundreds by Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful and Kapali.
# In the last three years, Bangladesh have managed to bat out the full 50 overs only six times while chasing a target. They lost all matches.
# Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka just once in 23 meetings.
Quotes
"All the while I was thinking of the team score and did not for once look at my runs on the scoreboard."
Another dazzling hundred for Alok Kapali will surely aid his team.
"I think in international cricket one has to be used to play such a tough schedule. Our players are fit and have been working hard and preparing for this tournament. In fact it was much tougher conditions in Lahore, it is much better in Karachi."
Mahela Jayawardene had no gripes about the itinerary, and in fact looked at the positives
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