The scent of recent paint and the blaze of the welding machine within the media field forward of the Asia Cup Super Four match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo are ciphers for the eleventh-hour affirmation of the venue following heavy rains within the capital metropolis final week.
And though the skies cleared on the eve of the sport, the groups lock horns below the shadow of the announcement of a reserve day for the India versus Pakistan conflict on September 10, which left coaches of either side stunned.
Bangladesh, nonetheless, could have little time to dwell on the politics of sport because it faces the host for the second time in simply over per week in a must-win recreation.
Its fortunes have revolved round its batting, which has blown cold and hot, as has the type of makeshift opener Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He may very well be joined on the high by the constant Litton Das even because the Tigers come to phrases with the lack of in-form Najmul Hossain Shanto to harm. Their tempo trio of Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud shall be key towards Sri Lanka, which is on a 12-match unbeaten streak, however scraped by way of to the Super-Four stage after a two-run win over Afghanistan.
While Sri Lanka’s batting appears to be coming into its personal, the host’s pacers have been taken to the cleaners by the Afghans and could have their job reduce out towards Bangladesh’s enviable batting depth, which is but to fireplace in unison.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com