With the two-Test series and the three-match ODI series being shared Sri Lanka are determined to ensure they win the two-match T20 International against Bangladesh which commences at the R Premadasa Stadium tonight at 7 pm.
Sri Lanka are with their tails up in this format having secured 2-1 series victories in South Africa and Australia in their last two bilateral series and will come out favourites to beat Bangladesh although the visitors have shown remarkable improvement in the Tests and ODIs to draw the series.
“South Africa and Australia are the top teams at the moment in the T20 format and we have beaten them in their own conditions. We are in good shape in the T20s,” said Sri Lanka skipper Upul Tharanga.
“We have a lot more experience – with players like Lasith (Malinga) coming back, and (Nuwan) Kulasekara, Thisara (Perera) and (Chamara) Kapugedara there. We have a very good, balanced side.
“Up front we have players like Danushka (Gunathilaka), (Dilshan) Munaweera, Kusal (Perera) and in the middle part we have Seekkuge (Prasanna) and Kapugedara and we’ve got firepower there. We have to bring our A game into play,” he said.
 Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza |
Tharanga stated that Kusal Perera’s hamstring strain that kept him out of the three ODIs against Bangladesh had completely healed.
“This morning he had a fitness Test, and he passed it. Not sure if he will play yet, but he’s 100% fit and available. We haven’t chosen the final XI,” said Tharanga.
Even the openers’ slots there are four in the running for it. “Yes, me, Danushka, Kusal and Munaweera are all opening batsmen. We need to talk together and figure out the balance of our team before deciding on the opening combination.
“We have to take the opposition’s plans into account. They have the off-spinner, and he often starts the bowling – as we saw in the ODIs. So that can affect the combination, and we might also want a right-hand/left-hand combination,” Tharanga said.
On the bowling Sri Lanka are well served with the presence of Lasith Malinga and Kulasekara backed up by Lakshan Sandakan and Seekkuge Prasanna as the specialist bowlers.
“We brought Shehan (Jayasuriya) into the team not as a bowler, primarily, but as an allrounder. We have Danushka Gunathilaka and Dilshan Munaweera who can bowl a bit of offspin. Munaweera’s played a lot of T20s in Bangladesh and West Indies. We might be able to make use of his bowling as well,” said Tharanga.
On the exclusion of Kusal Mendis from the T20 squad, Tharanga explained, “He’s playing Tests and ODIs really well, in T20s though he hasn’t been that successful. The Champions Trophy is coming up, and hopefully he’ll be in a good mental state for that. If we give him a break here, he can concentrate on the longer formats, and we can get more out of him.”
Tharanga said he hopes to continue with the success Sri Lanka had in South Africa and Australia.
“After the World T20 we didn’t play well – we lost quite a few series. But as players we’re in a decent mental state. There were shortcomings on our end. But we have to take strength from the way we played the last ODI, and especially the way we fielded there. That’s what we’ve got to keep doing,” said Tharanga.
“On the batting front, we’ve got to be consistent in getting those runs as well, and that has to carry over to the T20 format. In Australia we’ve chased 170-odd. Even here, if we can get and chase 180 – scores like that – that would be the best thing.”
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have played each other in 5 T20Is previously but only two bilateral T20I series which Sri Lanka has won 1-0 and 2-0.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza is aware how good Sri Lanka are in this format but that didn’t stop him from saying, “Even if we are not favourites, it doesn’t mean we can’t win or play well. Sri Lanka crushed Australia 3-0, but we beat them despite being 1-0 down in the Tests. So even if Sri Lanka are favourites having won in Australia and South Africa, we can compete and win.
“They have some impact players like Kapugedara, Malinga and Munaweera. They can turn around the game. This team won in Australia and South Africa. Winning in South Africa is very hard for Asian teams, so this team of theirs is doing well in this format. They are confident. It won’t be easy for us if we don’t play at our best. We have to try to win the first match, which is very important. It gives an advantage,” said Mortaza.
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