Asia Cup 2023, Match 2 | Sri Lanka's Predicted XI vs Bangladesh
Dasun Shanaka led the Sri Lankan team to the Asia Cup title in 2022 (Source: Twitter)
The sixteenth edition of the Asia Cup is already underway and the winner of the last campaign, Sri Lanka will play their first match of the ongoing tournament against Bangladesh. The clash is all set to take place on Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele at 3:00 PM IST.
The Lankan Lions are on a roll in the ODI format as they won the ICC World Cup Qualifiers competition last month in Zimbabwe. Dasun Shanaka and his men were excellent throughout the series as they played eight matches and emerged victorious in all of them. They defeated the Netherlands in the summit clash to lift the trophy and book their place for the marquee tournament in some style. The 2022 Asia Cup (T20) champions will look to kick off their campaign on a high by claiming a victory over the Bangla Tigers, the runners-up of the 2018 edition (ODI).
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Keeping the playing conditions and the recent form of the players in mind, here is the predicted XI of Sri Lanka for Match 2 of Asia Cup 2023 against Bangladesh.
Openers: Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne
Pathum Nissanka and Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne form the opening pair for Sri Lanka in the 50-overs format. The former has made a good start to his career in the format while the latter has carried his Test form into the ODIs. The pair of left-hand right-hand combination has produced a lot of runs for the Lions, especially in 2023.
Dimuth Karunaratne will provide the stability at the top of the order for Sri Lanka (Source: Twitter)
Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne 2023 ODI form:
| Players | Innings | Runs | Runs Per Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 14 | 687 | 49.07 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | 10 | 481 | 48.1 |
Middle-Order: Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka
The solid duo of Nissanka and Karunaratne will be followed by wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (also a keeper) and Charith Asalanka. Mendis, who made his ODI debut in the year 2016, is a regular member in the set-up also because of his wicketkeeping duties.
Kusal Mendis provides dynamism to the Sri Lankan top-order (Source: Twitter)
The right-hander is 55 runs short of reaching the milestone of 3000 runs in the format. No.4 batter Samarawickrama was the third highest run-getter for Sri Lanka after Nissanka and Karunaratne in the ICC WC Qualifiers tournament held last month. He also keeps wickets and is expected to slot again in that positition. Asalanka is also a regular member in ODIs as he averages 40 with one century and eight fifties in the 50-overs format.
ODI Stats of the Sri Lanka Middle-Order in 2023:
| Players | Innings | Runs | Runs Per Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis | 15 | 329 | 27.41 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | 7 | 262 | 43.66 |
| Charith Asalanka | 12 | 341 | 31.00 |
All-rounders: Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage
Dhananjaya de Silva has become a utility player for Sri Lanka across formats now. He provides solid option with the bat as well as with the ball. The right-hander has an average of 28 with ten fifties to his name in ODI cricket. The spinner is handy with the ball with 41 wickets in his career so far.
Skipper Dashun Shanaka will be a very important for Sir Lanka in the lower middle-order (Source: Twitter)
Captain Dasun Shanaka picks himself as he is also known for his lower-order hitting. The skipper is more than a useful bowler and can chip in with a few wickets. Wellalage is likely to fill in the no.8 spot for Sri Lanka. He has played only 9 matches so far but is expected to get the nod ahead of Dushan Hemantha.
Here is a look at the records of these players in ODIs in 2023:
| Players | Matches | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 13 | 307 | 6 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 16 | 204 | 9 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 3 | 35 | 0 |
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha
Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and seamers Matheesha Pathirana and Kasun Rajitha complete the Playing XI for Sri Lanka. After getting success in T20Is, Theekshana has been a regular feature in the ODIs. Pathirana, whose action is similar to legendary pacer Lasith Malinga, brings raw pace into the side as he is handy in the death-overs.
Maheesh Theekshana will be the leader in the spin department in Wanindu Hasaranga's absence (Source: Twitter)
Rajitha will accompany Pathirana in the pace department. Notably, in the absence of injured duo of Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka, the above-mentioned seamers will slot in the side.
This is how the trio has done with the ball in ODIs in 2023:
| Players | Matches | Wickets | Strike-rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maheesh Theekshana | 10 | 23 | 19.5 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 4 | 4 | 37.2 |
| Kasun Rajitha | 11 | 14 | 35.3 |
Asia Cup 2023, Match 2: Sri Lanka Predicted XI vs Bangladesh
Pathum Nissanka
Dimuth Karunaratne
Kusal Mendis (wk)
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Charith Asalanka
Dhananjaya de Silva
Dasun Shanaka (c)
Dunith Wellalage
Maheesh Theekshana
Matheesha Pathirana
Kasun Rajitha
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