Sri Lanka will look to cope up with their mini injury crisis and start their campaign on the right note when they take on Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2018 opener. The Islanders are struggling with injuries as Danushka Gunathilaka has returned home even before the start of the tournament with a lower back problem, and has been replaced by Shehan Jayasuriya, the off-spinning all-rounder. Before the Gunathilaka-Jayasuriya swap, came the news that Dinesh Chandimal is out with a finger injury – Niroshan Dickwella, the wicket-keeper batsman, has since replaced him. If recent bilateral history is anything to go by, the team currently coached by Chandika Hathurusingha beat the team formerly coached by the same man twice in a row to win the triangular series in Dhaka – with Zimbabwe as the third team – in January. However, the Bangladesh boys had their revenge in the Nidahas Trophy against the hosts, and come into this tournament as the higher-ranked of the two teams.
Live score and updates –
Lanka into the tail
With Tamim Iqbal retired hurt, Sri Lanka are effectively into the tail, If things go their way they could soon end the innings.
OUT!!! Malinga again
Class is permanent, Malinga on his return now has four, Mosaddek is the next one to go for 1. Caught behind by Kusal Perera. Bangladesh undoing all the good work. BAN 142/5 (28)
Another one goes
Sri Lanka get another one, This time it’s Mahmudullah, he goes for 1 and Sri Lanka have a chance to make further inroads now.
Malinga strikes…. again
He does what he does best. Runs up, delivers the ball, changes the pace and befuddles the batsmen, who looks to flick it away, top edges it and the keeper runs in rings under the ball but pouches it safely in the end.
Malinga, the man!
Sri Lanka looking out of sorts
After the initial burst, it has been a rather flat phase for Sri Lanka. Their sloppiness in the field hasn’t helped either.
And Lasith is back.
Mushfiqur notches up his 50
He was prepared to weather the storm when he walked out to bat, he was prepared to soak in the pressure and then as the pressure eased off, Mushfiqur opened his shoulders and played his strokes. A very assured innings and he has put Bangladesh back on track.
50 for Mithun
After a slightly iffy start, Mithun has settled down well. He has looked secure at the crease and has taken a liking for the spinners. A deft touch to third man gets him a boundary and gets him a 50. He needs to put his head down and bat on and on…
Not allowing the spinners to settle
They are dinking the singles and then stepping out to clobber them anywhere they feel like. Angelo Mathews looks worried and he has all the reasons to be so. Good passage of play from Bangladesh, low risk options and options which are yielding results at the moment.
Partnership cruising along
After seeing off Lasith Malinga, these two have looked to attack the spinners and have put them under pressure. The partnership is now ticking along at a fair clip.
Sri Lanka need to separate them rather quickly.
Test for the spinners
Dilruwan Perera has been in good form in the recent past. He spun a web around South Africa in the Test matches, but this will be a test for him as Bangladesh will go after him. 14 runs came off his first over, Mithun now looks in the groove
Opening their shoulders
First Mushfiqur and then Mithun. A boundary and a six in that over from Aponso as Bangladesh look to shift the pressure. The conditions are hot and can be taxing for the bowlers
Sloppy Sri Lanka
Another catch grassed by Sri Lanka. Length ball angled in, Mushfiqur clips it carelessly, the ball is uppish and it goes straight to Dilruwan at square leg who tumbles and shells the catch. Not very good fielding from Sri Lanka.
Some sense of calm for Bangladesh
Steady pace to the game. Mushfiqur is looking to dig in and see off the new ball. The pitch is bone dry and the ball will wear out easily as the innings goes along.
Pressure a little less for Bangladesh
Mathews drops Mithun
Malinga is delivering grenades at the moment. It was a length ball, it was shaping away even as Mithun tried to flick it away through the on side.
Leading edge taken and Mathews dives but shells the catch at mid on. Malinga looks away and then walks back to his mark. He is in some rhythm at the moment.
Oh the drama, it was a slower ball, it was a full bunger, but it was above the waist, Mithun flicked it and the man at deep fine leg has dropped it, but all about nothing. And then the freehit, Mushfiqur tries to slog the short ball away, Mathews takes the catch at long on. So muc happened, so little on the scorecard.
Tamim is injured and is walking off
Short ball from Lakmal rises up as Tamim wants to pull but the ball has hit his finger and that means he has to walk out.
Bangladesh in a real hole right now.
Bang… swinging in and uproots the stumps
Vintage Malinga, full ball swinging back in, late movement, Shakib has no hope, the ball sneaks between bat and pad and smashes the stumps.
Dream start for Malinga
Malinga strikes
What a smashing comeback. Length ball on off, slight shape away from the bat, Liton hangs his bat out, gets a thick outside edge and the ball carries comfortably to Kusal Mendis at first slip.
Lovely over!
We are about to roll
Out come Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das for Bangladesh on a sweltering heat. Lasith Malinga, yes Malinga, will take the new ball for Sri Lanka. There is a decent crowd in the stands, and they are making themselves heard and some.
Let’s roll…
Playing XI
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera(w), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews(c), Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Amila Aponso, Dilruwan Perera
Captains speak
Mashrafe: Looks like a good wicket to bat on. Later on we should get some help from the bowlers. There should be a bit of turn later on, so we think it’s better to bat first and get a good total. The guys are in form, especially Tamim and the bowlers.
Angelo: I was going to have a bat first, looks like a belter. There will be some dew, but you can’t control these things. Malinga coming back is great for us. You can always hand the ball to him at crunch moments. The heat is terrible, but you can’t think of these things.
Toss update
Bangladesh win the toss and will bat first.
It is all building up
The first match of any tournament promises to be an interesting watch and this Asia Cup should be no different.
‘Pitch looks a beauty, no assistance to the bowlers. A dream wicket for the batsmen. A few cracks here and there, but they aren’t likely to be too significant,’ says Ramiz Raza.
Lanka’s X-factor player
With 301 ODI wickets to his name and a phenomenal economy rate of just 5.31, Lasith Malinga will look to play his part for Sri Lanka at the tournament. Sri Lanka head coach Chandika Hathurusingha said on the eve of the clash: “I believe that Malinga fits into our equation for this tournament. He is one of the best death bowlers in the world. In the last few matches, he has performed well and his fitness is up to the mark.”
Captain’s corner
This is what Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza had to say on the eve of the tournament: “It is an essential affair for us to start the tournament on a positive note. If we get it right against Sri Lanka, the rest of the event can be easy for us.”
Sri Lanka team news
Angelo Mathews has tremendous experience and class, qualities that aren’t lacking in the core of Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Suranga Lakmal or the returning Lasith Malinga either. The return of Malinga, indeed, has been one of the stories in the lead-up to the event, with the paceman not having played any international cricket since September last year.
Recent head to head record
If recent bilateral history is anything to go by, the team currently coached by Chandika Hathurusingha beat the team formerly coached by the same man twice in a row to win the triangular series in Dhaka – with Zimbabwe as the third team – in January. However, the Bangladesh boys had their revenge in the Nidahas Trophy against the hosts, and come into this tournament as the higher-ranked of the two teams.
Bangladesh team news
talismanic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan needs a surgery on his left little finger, but has pushed it back till after the Asia Cup. Tamim Iqbal, the senior opener, has a swollen right ring finger; Nazmul Hossain, the off-spinner, also has an injury in his bowling hand. One will hope that the two teams put their injury concerns behind and put on a good show for the fans.
Lankan injury crisis
The Islanders are struggling with injuries as Danushka Gunathilaka has returned home even before the start of the tournament with a lower back problem, and has been replaced by Shehan Jayasuriya, the off-spinning all-rounder. Before the Gunathilaka-Jayasuriya swap, came the news that Dinesh Chandimal is out with a finger injury – Niroshan Dickwella, the wicket-keeper batsman, has since replaced him.
Hello and welcome!
A very warm welcome to all the readers. Today we will get you all the live scores and updates from the first match of the Asia Cup 2018, which will be played between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Stadium. The other four teams in the competition are India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Afghanistan and we will get you the scores of all the matches as and when they take place in the competition.
Source: HindustanTimes