Asia Cup 2023, Super Fours Match 2 | Sri Lanka Predicted XI vs Bangladesh

image-lma88gvuSri Lanka will be playing against Bangladesh in the second match of the Super Four in Asia Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

The Super Four stages of the ongoing 2023 Asia Cup has already kicked off and now it's time for the caravan to move from Lahore to Colombo. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be battling against one another in the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Septmember 9,  starting at 3:00 PM IST, Local Time. It marks the end of Asia Cup hosting in Pakistan.

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Bangladesh cemented their spot for the Super Fours after a win against Afghanistan by 89 runs margin. Mehidy Hadan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto's heroic ton helped them seal the second position after losing the first match to Sri Lanka. They've already played one match in the Super Fours and lost to Pakistan. This is a very important contest for them and need to win inorder to avoid reliance on net run-rate scenarios for qualification.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka gained four points during the group stages after beating Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Their latest game against the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led unit was a  humdinger where they managed to win at the very last. The Atalans were on the verge of snatching victory and would eliminate the Lankan Lions on that case. 

Despite the poor weather conditions predicted all over Colombo for the next few days we hope to get some game under the belt. Let us have a quick look at Sri Lanka's predicted XI for the following game.


Openers- Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka

This is the one of the best opening combinations in the current generation of ODI cricket. Karunaratne brings in wealth of experience while Nissanka is more like the protege who is set to carry Sri Lankan cricketet forward in the days to come. Both of them are quite stable batters and provide the left and right hand combination to the side at the top of the order. Hence they will be backed at the top.


Middle Orders: Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka

Kusal Mendis did not have a very good Lanka Premier League season that concluded recently. But he is a player full of potential and can change the complexion of a game on his own will. And that is what he showcased in the contest against Afghanistan, garnering 93 runs and stealing the player of the match award. 

Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka holds the core of the middle order and can bat situations very well. The former has been stellar after his return to the international side, scoring runs at the need of hour while the latter played a vital knock against Bangladesh and was one the prime reasons behind the unwrinkled chase.


All-rounders: Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage

The skipper has to be in the side and it’s a no-brainer. Dhananjaya de Silva is someone who can be tremendous with the bat in hand on pressure situations and has revived the national side on various circumstances in the past. Moreover, he also offers finger spin capability and is a relief for the full-time bowlers.

Dunith Wellalage has been good with the ball for the Lankan Lions and there should be less reasons to replace him with someone from the bench. The left-arm spinner has been brilliant in the middle overs and extracted wickets when the team needed it. Also, Wellalage can be handy with the bat in hand and we did get to witness that against Afghanistan when he recorded a crucial partnership with Maheesh Theekshana.


Bowlers: Kasun Rajitha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

The pair of Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana are going to be the probable options in the pace battery for Sri Lanka. Rajitha has the knack for wickets and can induce lateral movements off the strip while Pathirana is a star in the making. Supporting them should be Maheesh Theekshana, who has a lot of responsibility in the spin department in the absence of Hasaranga.


Sri Lanka's Predicted XI vs Bangladesh

Dimuth Karunaratne
Pathum Nissanka
Kusal Mendis (wk)
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Charith Asalanka
Dasun Shanaka (c)
Dhananjaya de Silva
Dunith Wellalage
Kasun Rajitha
Maheesh Theekshana
Matheesha Pathirana