Sport
Sri Lanka look to keep Bangladesh batters in check
‘We analyse each batsman and each bowler makes different plans’
September 09, 2023 | 12:27 AM
Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood on Friday said their bowlers have made specific plans to keep the Bangladesh batsmen "under pressure” in their Super Four clash of the Asia Cup.Bangladesh’s batting faltered in two of the three matches of the 50-over tournament, a precursor to the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.The Bangla Tigers take on Sri Lanka in Colombo today in a must-win match to keep their hopes high of reaching the final, after they lost their Super Four opener to Pakistan.Shakib Al Hasan’s team were bowled for 194 against Pakistan in Lahore, but their bowlers led by Taskin Ahmed fought to get three Pakistan wickets."I have been very impressed with them, particularly their pace bowlers. They are strong, accurate and get movement,” Silverwood said of the Bangladesh quicks."From the Bangladesh batting perspective, we have to make sure to keep them under pressure. We know they haven’t got runs, but we know what they are capable of getting - and give them that respect. Try and apply the pressure and get the wickets.”Silverwood added: "We analyse each batsman and each bowler makes different plans for each batsman.”Sri Lanka survived a big scare by Afghanistan before they sneaked into the Super Fours with a narrow win which witnessed a miscalculation drama.Afghanistan believed they needed to chase down their target of 292 in 37.1 overs to lift their net run-rate, but the analysts pointed to different numbers when they neared the target. Silverwood said it remains a "watershed moment” for all the teams to take a lesson to view run-rates and calculations.Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha remains confident about his team’s chances in the next two matches."We have to play in different conditions from the past two games against different opposition, so it’s a big challenge for us,” said Hathurusingha, a former Sri Lankan all-rounder."But we are much more capable of what we have shown. The inconsistency is the one that we have to address and look forward to put on a good show.”Reserve day added forIndia-Pakistan Asia Cup clashAsia Cup organisers on Friday added a reserve day for the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan after their first encounter at the 50-over tournament was washed out.The arch-rivals are scheduled to play in Colombo tomorrow but thundery showers are forecast for the Sri Lankan capital over the weekend."If adverse weather suspends play during the Pak vs India game, the match will continue on 11th September 2023 from the point it was suspended,” a statement said on Friday.The match is the only one in the Super Four stage to have a reserve day, but coaches for both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - the other two teams in round two - made guarded statements."Little surprised when I first heard, but at the same time we are not the organisers of the competition so not a lot we can do about that,” Sri Lanka coach Silverwood said."To be honest it will be a problem if the reserve day then provides points to the teams and not someone else, but nothing we can do about so we keep preparing and do the best we can.”Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said "yes, it’s not ideal, we would love to have an extra day as well. Other than that I don’t have much comment because they (technical committee) have made a decision.”Hathurusingha added he hadn’t seen anything like this in any other tournament.
September 09, 2023 | 12:27 AM