Teams:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera(w), Upul Tharanga(c), Dilshan Munaweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Asela Gunaratne, Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Vikum Sanjaya
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed
Tharanga: "The toss doesn't seem all that important. The last few days have been dry so I do not think it should rain. We have a good chance with us today to reverse our record at this ground."
Mortaza: "We'd like to bat first. Looks like a good wicket and without any dew should be good for us to set up a big score first up. This T20 series is going to be my last for Bangladesh. Would like to thank the BCB, my family, friends and team mates who've been with me for 15-16 years."
"A hard pitch with an even covering of grass. All the opportunity for the batsmen to play their shots and look to score big. The par score should be around 175. The outfield is huge and it could come down to the quick legs that could do the trick," reckons Russel Arnold in his pitch report.
Breaking now: The toss has suddenly become interesting. A new destination to announce your retirement. Mashrafe Mortaza , the Bangladeshi skipper announces his retirement from T20Is after this series. He is only 33. Do track out site, all updates coming up for you out there.
Bangladesh have won the toss and have opted to bat
A customary plethora of changes for either side beckons. Sri Lanka appear to be happy going top heavy. Four openers, each just as destructive as the other, fighting to find a spot. More importantly, the slinga is back in his backyard. Not just the whole of Sri Lanka, the whole of Mumbai too would be rooting for those toe-crushing yorkers. Bangladesh on the other hand, playing just their second T20 series in over a year, would be licking their fingers as they test out their new recruits emerging on the back of the BPL. Everything to play for. Subject to the permission from the heavens in keeping things dry. At least for the next three hours. The toss, teams, pitch and everything to do with it coming your way in a bit..
18.00 local time: We've seen an entire month of cricket and not a hint of evidence to show who has their noses ahead. We are now at the historic Premadasa. Very typically Sri Lankan. So how could the unwanted clouds be far away? But we've been promised some amount of action in the next few hours. And the series desperately needs it, both sides desperately need it to bag the right to boast. As the entire world switches to the shorter version, here we are with the first of the two T20s to end the season. Welcome..
By Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka are perhaps going through their toughest phase in cricket since being granted full member status of the International Cricket Council in 1981. Several high profile retirements over the last two years has seen a steady decline of the Sri Lankan team. They were whitewashed 3-0 in Tests and 5-0 in the One-Day Internationals when they toured South Africa in December. Then Bangladesh recorded their maiden Test win over them with a stunning four-wicket victory in Colombo. The hosts could only square the three-match ODI series 1-1 after the second game was washed out. However, in T20s, the Sri Lankans have some momentum with series wins in Australia and South Africa in the last two months.
Bangladesh have had fewer opportunities in T20 cricket. Since the ICC World Twenty20 in India last year, they only played one series in the shortest form of the game. The Sri Lankans, meanwhile, played four series in that period. The highly successful Bangladesh Premier League has given the Bangladeshi players much needed exposure in T20s with an opportunity rub shoulders with some of the finest players in the game. Lack of a solid domestic T20 competition has hurt the Sri Lankans, but there are efforts to identify players who are suited for this fast-paced game.
Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, batsmen who were part of the squad that won the series in South Africa, have been left out while Shehan Jayasuriya, Danushka Gunathilaka and Thisara Perera, perhaps players with a better T20 mindset have been included.
Sri Lanka are perhaps going through their toughest phase in cricket since being granted full member status of the International Cricket Council in 1981. Several high profile retirements over the last two years has seen a steady decline of the Sri Lankan team. They were whitewashed 3-0 in Tests and 5-0 in the One-Day Internationals when they toured South Africa in December. Then Bangladesh recorded their maiden Test win over them with a stunning four-wicket victory in Colombo. The hosts could only square the three-match ODI series 1-1 after the second game was washed out. However, in T20s, the Sri Lankans have some momentum with series wins in Australia and South Africa in the last two months.
Bangladesh have had fewer opportunities in T20 cricket. Since the ICC World Twenty20 in India last year, they only played one series in the shortest form of the game. The Sri Lankans, meanwhile, played four series in that period. The highly successful Bangladesh Premier League has given the Bangladeshi players much needed exposure in T20s with an opportunity rub shoulders with some of the finest players in the game. Lack of a solid domestic T20 competition has hurt the Sri Lankans, but there are efforts to identify players who are suited for this fast-paced game.
Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, batsmen who were part of the squad that won the series in South Africa, have been left out while Shehan Jayasuriya, Danushka Gunathilaka and Thisara Perera, perhaps players with a better T20 mindset have been included.
source-https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scores/18188/sl-vs-ban-1st-t20i-bangladesh-tour-of-sri-lanka-2017
