Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2nd ODI: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Sri Lanka put their best foot forward for Lasith Malinga’s ODI farewell on Friday as they coasted past Bangladesh by 91 runs, with the big man playing a typically influential role. However, the task for the home side now is to get by without good ol’ Lasith.

The post-Malinga era begins on Sunday. The likes of Nuwan Pradeep and Kasun Rajitha will have to step up, with Malinga, in his parting message, urging the next generation of Sri Lankan pacemen to be match-winners.

That sort of stuff doesn’t happen overnight though. In the first ODI, with an emotional rush giving added impetus to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh were nullified across the park. Kusal Perera’s century took the home side to a big total, and with Malinga dismissing the openers in a typically fiery opening spell, the task was always going to be a steep one for an injury-depleted Bangladesh.

Without Malinga to face, the visitors will be buoyed. They have a series to level, and their batsmen will no longer have to contend with someone of the stature of Malinga. It takes time to build that aura, and the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim will be more inclined to punish the likes of Pradeep and Rajitha.

And so it’ll be for the rest of the post-Malinga era, at least until another superstar emerges. Sri Lanka may be in the lead, but this one’s still a hard one to call.

Head to head

This encounter was a one-sided rivalry for long, but has had a feisty edge recently. A lot of that is down to Bangladesh’s improving form in the format – of the 46 matches they’ve played, 37 have been won by Sri Lanka. Three of those seven losses came in the last three years, and five in this decade.

Key players

Nuwan Pradeep (Sri Lanka): As the senior figure in the pace attack following the retirement of Malinga, it is up to Pradeep to spearhead the attack. He was excellent in the first ODI, returning figure of 3/51. But without Malinga’s lead to follow, how will he fare?

Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh): The stand-in captain has the ability to change the course of a match. If he gets going, Bangladesh invariably end up with a huge total, and without Malinga – who dismissed him with a delicious yorker on Friday – he will be further buoyed by the prospect of facing this Sri Lankan attack. It’ll be interesting.

Likely XIs

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (c), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmadullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shaiful Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

Prediction

Sri Lanka to ride the momentum and make it 2-0.