Sri Lanka managed to get the job done by an emphatic margin in the first Test of two against Bangladesh last week and now they will aim to repeat the dose when they go up against the same opponent in the second and final match in Colombo on Wednesday.
Although the end result wasn’t what Bangladesh would have wanted they took Sri Lanka deep in the first game despite being on the wrong end of the toss so they have something to build on as they look to level the series.
Sri Lanka
This series was always going to boil down to who batted the best in the conditions and Sri Lanka certainly did that in the opening match as two of their younger stars really took advantage of batting first on a great wicket to fill their boots and from there it was only ever a case of when Sri Lanka would win rather than how many by.
Rangana Herath skippered the side well in that match and led from the front with nine wickets but he will be pleased with the way the rest of his bowlers went. They restricted the partnerships Bangladesh were able to build up and the constant pressure was just too much for the Tigers in the end.
Bangladesh
Once they lost the toss in Galle, Bangladesh were always up against it and while they toiled hard they could never get themselves into a position by which they could get back to parity. They deserve credit for taking the match as deep as they did but really and truly they never once had a chance to win it.
They did show some fight though and that was a good thing and if they can win the toss here and show similar levels of fight then they might yet get rewarded. They will need to bowl better over the two innings but if you take the centuries in both Sri Lanka innings in the first Test out there wasn’t too much between the two sides.
Team News
There is no need for Sri Lanka to make any changes although they might consider bringing in an extra batsman. That is unlikely though so they may well be unchanged.
Bangladesh have announced that Mahmudullah’s poor form has cost him his place in the side. Sabbir Rahman may be most likely to replace him. Taijul Islam might find a spot in the side too.
P Sara Oval
This will be the 21st Test match to be held on this ground. Bangladesh probably won’t want reminding that they have played here on three occasions and lost the lot. Sri Lanka have a winning record here having won nine and drawn four of the 19 matches they have played.
The wicket is expected to play well for the batsmen but we’re in the subcontinent so it will turn at times. Thunderstorms could be an issue late on in each day.
Betting
With the potential for storms late on in the day here coupled with the fight that Bangladesh showed in the opening match I’m not so sure there is much value in anything on the match betting with the exception of the draw perhaps. I’ll stick with a bet which served us well in the first Test.
That is on the first innings runs of the Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim. He made 85 in the first dig in Galle and I would expect something similar if not better from him here. His line in this match is 28.5 but I’m still not convinced that is high enough.
Mushfiqur is currently averaging 88.20 in 2017 which is pretty crazy and he has an 80 on this ground in the only previous Test he has played here. He looks the real deal now so I’ll go overs on his run line.
Tips
WON – Back M.Rahim First Inns – Over 28.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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