Daijiworld Media Network

Dhaka, Mar 20 : In a decider match in the Asia Cup Cricket 2012, put into bat by host Bangladesh, Sri Lanka has started the play in a disappointing way, losing three important wickets within 33 runs.

In a halfway stage, Sri Lanka are 100/3 (28 overs)

Wicket Highlights :

Nazmul Hossain to Dilshan, out Bowled!! Nazmul is on fire here, he has netted the third big fish. This was short and just outside off, Dilshan stayed rooted to his crease as he attempted a flashy cut, he was cramped up for room and only manages a thickish inside edge back onto his stumps. Nazmul is thrilled as he is surrounded by his jubilant mates. He is turning out to be an inspired selection. Dilshan b Nazmul Hossain 19(22) [4s-3]

7.2 29/2 Nazmul Hossain to Sangakkara, out Caught by Nazimuddin!! Big strike by Nazmul Hossain. This was full and outside off, Sangakkara stays rooted to his crease and plays the square drive in the air straight to the fielder at cover. The Bangladeshis are fired up as they celebrate the exit of yet another big fish. Sangakkara c Nazimuddin b Nazmul Hossain 6(14)

4 19/1 Nazmul Hossain to Mahela Jayawardene, out Bowled!! Superb bowling by Nazmul Hossain. This was a fuller length delivery that nipped back in from outside off, MJ took a step down the track and looks to work it towards the onside, misses it and the off-pole is knocked out of the ground. Great start by Bangladesh, but a loose shot by Mahela. Mahela Jayawardene b Nazmul Hossain 5(12)

Fan face-off:

Gokul who is confident that SL will leave with a win and Sid V who is fervently hoping for Bdesh to play in the finals face-off.

Gokul: Bangladesh may have handled the Indian bowling line-up pretty easily. But do they have it in them to go up against Lasith Malinga?

Sid V: The potent Malinga is a thing of the past. He is not getting the yorker right and so he is easy to handle. Malinga is still dangerous, but he is nowhere close to his best. He is only good in the IPL, where his yorkers are surprisingly on target. The rest of the bowling line-up? The less said about them the better. No variety and no consistency. It is like the SL team can bat but they can't bowl and field well.

Gokul: Bangladesh have exceeded expectations with their performance in this Asia Cup, no doubting that. But how long can they sustain it?

Sid V: There have been a lot of starts and stops in Bangladesh's cricketing journey. If a team like Bangladesh gets on a roll, they are very difficult to beat. They showed it in the 2007 World Cup, where they defeated some big nations along the way. Similarly in the 2011 World Cup, they defeated England. They were on a roll when they whitewashed New Zealand 4-0 as well as defeated Zimbabwe 3-1. Looking at their recent thrashing of India, they look like emerging out of a defeatist attitude and putting in a consistent show.

Gokul: Indians might have batted slowly against Bangladesh, but don't expect Dilshan, Mahela and Sangakkara to go quiet. The Bangla bowlers will have an uphill task trying to stop the dangerous trio?

Sid V: Dilshan always has had a brain explosion. His tendency to over-attack will lead to his downfall. Mahela and Sangakkara are class players no doubt, but Bangladesh's spinners can contain them and frustrate them into making a mistake. The SL top order are totally over-reliant on these three and that adds more pressure on them. If the moment is seized by Bangladesh, then the trio can be easily put down

Sid V: Bangladesh are heading into the match after thumping India, something Sri Lanka have failed to do. What will it take for Sri Lanka to register a win?

Gokul: Sri Lankans are entering the final match of the league stage with nothing to lose. With India having won against Pakistan, Sri Lanka are out of the tournament and will look to go out with a bang. So, this will be the match where they'll launch an all-out attack and tame the so called 'Tigers'.

Sid V: The world calls us minnows. But, Sri Lanka's performance in the Asia Cup could make even the minnows proud? How will Sri Lanka cope up?

Gokul: They might have had two failures but don't expect a third from a world class side like the Lankans. How will Lanka cope - how they have over the years while beating world class sides time and again.

Sid V: Sri Lanka have failed to reach the finals and the main problem is their lacklustre bowling line-up. How did they think they could come out victors in the Asia Cup with such a pedestrian bowling line-up?

Gokul: There is nothing pedestrian about the Lankan bowling. The sight of Lasith Malinga will send shivers down the Bangladeshi batsmen. Suranga Lakmal too is a effective bowler and so are Kulasekara and Maharoof. So to answer your question, Sri Lanka's bowling is armed enough to deliver a comprehensive win.

Sid V: So far, the lowest total posted in the Asia Cup has been from Sri Lanka, for a team relying heavily on its batsmen they have thus far been poor. With the finals out of reach, will they finally come good?

Gokul: FYI, Sangakkara and Tharanga scored fine half-centuries against Pakistan in between collapses. Against India too, Sangakkara did well along with Mahela. Not to mention, Dilshan is due for a big score and Sri Lanka also have talented youngsters like Chandimal and Thirimmane. So the Bangladeshi bowlers better be up for battering. 

Teams: 

Sri Lanka (From): Mahela Jayawardene(c), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Thissara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera

Bangladesh (From): Mushfiqur Rahim(w/c), Anamul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Nazmul Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Tamim Iqbal, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Jahurul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nazimuddin, Shafiul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan