The first ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh takes place in Dambulla on Saturday with both sides looking to draw first blood in the series to go one up with two to play. After a level series in the Test matches there might not be much between these two which should make for a good game of cricket.
Sri Lanka
This is a young Sri Lanka side which is still coming to terms with the big name retirements of recent years and we will get a yardstick for where they are in this series. When they played in South Africa recently conditions were against them and an excuse could be made off the back of that but there is no excuses in this series.
You would think in Asian conditions Sri Lanka will have the bowlers to be more than competitive but one of their big issues in recent times wherever they have played their 50 over cricket has been scoring runs with an inexperienced batting line up. That remains the task for them over these three matches.
Bangladesh
I’m not sure how much can be taken from Test cricket into limited overs stuff but if anything can be taken then Bangladesh have plenty to bring forward with them. It might only be that they dented Sri Lanka’s confidence but it will do them no harm whatever it is that they have built up from that second Test win.
This is now Bangladesh’s strongest suit which is something that will give them even more belief than they might already have had. They have a solid and lengthy batting line up and plenty of bowling options who are both skilful and economical so they are entitled to be difficult to beat in this opening game.
Team News
Sri Lanka will be without Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis through suspension and injury respectively while Angelo Mathews remains injured so Upul Tharanga will continue to lead the side.
Bangladesh will bring their ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza into their side for this match and there is talk that the late call up into the squad for Mehedi Hasan could mean he gets given his ODI debut.
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
There have been 48 previous matches on this ground in the 50 over format with Sri Lanka winning 25 of the 38 they’ve played in, losing just 12 with one no result. Bangladesh has only played here three times and they have lost on all three occasions.
This isn’t a high scoring ground with just two scores of 300 or more ever being made here. Both came against Bangladesh when the Tigers were a new force at this level of the game so realistically we shouldn’t expect a high scoring match.
Betting
I didn’t have the balls to back Bangladesh for the series but I have no problems backing them for this opening match. There are a couple of reasons for that. Firstly they bring plenty of confidence with them from that final Test win and a near miss in the warm up match which they competed well in and secondly the man who could take the game away from them in Dickwella is missing the match.
I really like the solidity of the Bangladesh batting line up and if their star batsmen come good they can take the game away from Sri Lanka but I’d marginally give Bangladesh the edge with the ball too and a combination of all of that can lead to an opening match win for the visitors.
Tips
WON – Back Bangladesh to win 1st ODI for a 4/10 stake at 2.40 with Boylesports
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