Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Fantasy Preview

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka went into the first ODI at the Shere Bangla Stadium national stadium in Dhaka desperate for a win and the hosts came out with a 33-run victory. Mustafizur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal scored fifties as Bangladesh set the visitors a target of 258 while Mehidy Hasan’s 4-30 reduced Sri Lanka to 224 all out.

Ground Details and Team Combination

The national stadium, which will host all the three ODIs in the series, has aided spinners over the years. In the past six ODI innings, spinners have picked up 27 wickets while pacers have picked 15. 

The best bowling composition will be to go with four spinners and a pacer.  Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga are the perfect spin quartet to have while a crafty seamer like Mustafizur Rahman is the best pick for the fast-bowling slot. As the second fast-bowling, all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin is a good option.

Suggested Team

While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms, we have come up with one team.

Captain Suggestion

Mushfiqur Rahim has been Bangladesh's go-to man over the past two years as he remains their top scorer in ODIs with 1082 runs in 27 innings at an average of 49.18. He was once again there to lift the hosts from 99/4 to 208/5 with a well-paced 84. Rahim is one of the three batsmen who has scored 1000+ runs batting number four or lower since 2019. 

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Rahim could score 40-60 runs in this match

X-Factors

Mustafizur Rahman

On a spin haven, Mustafizur was very effective in the first ODI claiming 3-34 at an economy of 3.77. With his pace variations and ability to read the match situations, the left-armer is the best pace option to have in the team.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Rahman could pick 0-1 wickets in this match

Tamim Iqbal

The Bangladesh skipper was stable in the first ODI when they lost early wickets of Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan as he went on to score 52 which was crucial for setting up the target of 258. In ODIs, Tamim Iqbal has scored 2717 runs at the Shere Bangla stadium, the most by a batsman at a venue in the format.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Iqbal could score 34-50 runs in this match

Kusal Mendis

Mendis has been the most consistent batsmen in the Lankan squad in Bangladesh scoring 805 in 23 innings which include 5 fifties and a hundred. He was dismissed by a tricky delivery by Shakib in the first ODI as the visitors crumbled after he fell.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Mendis could score 37-55 runs in this match

Image Credits: Sri Lanka Cricket