Sri Lanka aims to make a fitting farewell for Lasith Malinga

July 26, 2019 Leonard Ratnayake CRICKET 0
By Dhammika Ratnaweera
The first match of the Sri Lanka v Bangladesh ODI cricket series has become nothing else but an organised send-off encounter to one of Sri Lanka’s greatest bowlers Lasith Malinga who bids adieu to international matches from 26th of July at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, fresh from a mixed campaign at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, are aiming for a winning start to the three-match ODI series. Bangladesh appears very different to the side that played the World Cup: all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (out for personal reasons) and regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (injury) are the most notable absentees.

A lot will rely on Tamim Iqbal, the stand-in skipper, as Bangladesh eye their first-ever series win on Sri Lankan soil.

In a normally flat wicket at famously know Khettarama Stadium, Sri Lanka would be looking to give a fair opportunity to both bats and bowlers as skipper Dimuth Karunarathne already said that there will be more focus on the bowlers on Malinga’s farewell match “We wanted to give very fair wicket for both sides.
“We are going to play six batters with five bowlers sticking to their world cup team with a few changes in the bowling line-up” said Karunaratne assuring that the number six position would remain unchanged for Lahiru Thirimanne. There will be a change in the top order batting line-up as well as some batters would swap their positions.

Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka captain: “If you take the World Cup, we did fairly well in patches. We know we need to find a wicket-taking bowler because Lasith Malinga is not available after this series. We need to find the bowlers who can take wickets in the middle and the early overs. I need some good youngsters, we need to groom some youngsters for the next World Cup.”

Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh captain:  “I thought we had a pretty decent World Cup. There were a few games that we should have won. We, the cricketers also felt that we could have done more. I think that whoever plays the first one-day match they need to cash in on the opportunity.”

The last ODI between these two sides, the round-robin fixture at the World Cup, was washed out. In the opening game of the Asia Cup 2018 in UAE, Mushfiqur Rahim’s 144 had powered Bangladesh to an emphatic 137-run win over Sri Lanka.

However, thundery showers and light winds are expected in Colombo with even chances of rain throughout the day. Teams batting first have won four of the last five ODIs played at the stadium and hence the toss could be a crucial factor.

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