Cricket

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to reignite their rivalry in a highly anticipated one-day international (ODI) series, with both teams eager to prove their dominance in the 50-over format. The series kicks off on Wednesday in Chittagong, and the atmosphere is already electric.The current tour has been marked by a simmering rivalry between the two sides, stemming from the controversial timed-out dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews during their World Cup clash last year. Mathews became the first player in international cricket history to be dismissed in this manner, and the incident has continued to cast a shadow over the relationship between the teams.Sri Lanka reignited the controversy after winning the Twenty20 series on Saturday, prompting Bangladesh to accuse their opponents of dwelling on the past. However, Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood insists that the rivalry is healthy and will only add to the intensity of the upcoming ODI series."The rivalry is obviously great. I think we need good competition," Silverwood said. "We're going to play some competitive cricket. I expect exactly the same again... And obviously both teams will be looking for the same, I should imagine."Bangladesh has traditionally been a formidable force in ODI cricket, boasting an impressive home record. However, they have suffered a dip in form in recent times, losing to both England and Afghanistan in 2023. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is confident that his team can bounce back against Sri Lanka."We played very good cricket from 2015 to 2022. So it can be a bad year. But it's important to bounce back as a team and come back well this year," Shanto said.The second and third matches of the series will be held on March 15 and 18, and both teams will be determined to secure victory. The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched sides, with the added spice of the ongoing rivalry between them.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das showcased his exceptional fielding skills with a stunning no-look run-out during the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet on Saturday. The incident occurred on the final ball of Sri Lanka's innings, leaving fans in awe of Das's quick thinking and agility.As Dasun Shanaka and Sadeera Samarawickrama attempted to steal a couple of runs, Shanaka flicked Mustafizur Rahman's delivery towards mid-on. The pair completed the first run successfully, but Shanaka's eagerness to complete the second proved costly.Rishad Hossain's throw at the striker's end was slightly off target, but Litton displayed remarkable awareness to collect the ball and execute a no-look run-out. His swift and precise action reminded fans of former India captain MS Dhoni, renowned for his no-look run-outs throughout his illustrious career.Litton's exceptional fielding effort was a highlight of the match, which saw Sri Lanka emerge victorious by 28 runs. Nuwan Thushara's maiden over hat-trick and Kusal Mendis' career-best 86 played pivotal roles in Sri Lanka's triumph.Despite late efforts from Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed, Bangladesh were bowled out for 146 in the final over. Mendis' 55-ball knock of six fours and six sixes guided Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 174-7.Thushara's hat-trick, dismissing Najmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, and Mahmudullah Riyad, proved decisive in restricting Bangladesh's chase. The Sri Lankan bowler expressed his delight at his first-ever hat-trick, acknowledging its significance in the team's victory.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain praised Thushara's exceptional bowling performance, crediting it as a key factor in Sri Lanka's success. The tour will continue with the first of three one-day internationals in Chittagong on March 15.

Sri Lanka's cricket team secured a thrilling 28-run victory over Bangladesh in the final T20 match of their series, claiming the series 2-1. Opener Kusal Mendis played a pivotal role, scoring a brilliant 86 runs off 55 balls, including six fours and six sixes. His innings propelled Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 174-6.Bangladesh's chase got off to a shaky start, with pacer Nuwan Thushara making an immediate impact. Thushara, playing his first game of the series, ripped through the top order, taking four wickets in his two overs, including a hat trick. His victims included captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, and Mahmudullah.Despite Rishad Hossain's valiant effort with a 30-ball 53, Bangladesh's batting lineup crumbled under Thushara's relentless bowling. The team was eventually bowled out for 146 in 19.4 overs, falling short of the target.Thushara's career-best performance of 5-20 earned him the Player of the Match award. Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga praised Thushara's contribution, saying, "This is our last series before the World Cup, so we take a lot of confidence from this."The victory marks a significant boost for Sri Lanka as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The team's bowling attack, led by Thushara, proved to be a formidable force, while Mendis' batting prowess provided a solid foundation.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has urged Sri Lanka to move on from the controversial timed-out incident that occurred during the 2023 World Cup. Shanto's comments came after Sri Lanka's victory in the third T20I in Sylhet, where the visitors sealed the series 2-1.During the post-match celebrations, Sri Lankan players made a collective gesture of pointing to their watches, a reference to the incident where Angelo Mathews became the first player ever timed out in international cricket. Mathews had criticized Shakib Al Hasan for appealing for the dismissal, and the gesture has since become a symbol of the rivalry between the two teams.In the first T20I of the series, Shoriful Islam used the same gesture after taking Sri Lanka's first wicket. In the third T20I, Sri Lankan fielders targeted Towhid Hridoy after his dismissal, leading to an angry exchange.Shanto expressed his disappointment with Sri Lanka's continued focus on the timed-out incident. "They haven't moved on from the timed-out incident," he said. "They should stay in the present. We were within the rules. They are in a frenzy about it."Sri Lankan assistant coach Naveed Nawaz downplayed the significance of the gesture, stating that it was a celebration that was misunderstood. He emphasized that the two teams have a good relationship off the field.Kusal Mendis, who scored a career-high 86 in the match, also addressed the issue. "I don't know why someone was doing the timed-out celebrations," he said. "We can celebrate our own things."Despite the controversy, Mendis denied that Sri Lanka felt vindicated by winning the series after the controversial overturning of Soumya Sarkar's dismissal in the previous game. "Everyone can make a mistake," he said. "Our team isn't thinking about it too much."

Bangladesh's Rishad Hossain struck a crucial blow in the third and final Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, dismissing Kamindu Mendis for 14 runs. The wicket came in the eighth over, with Mendis attempting an ambitious over-the-top shot that was caught by long off.Earlier, Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis had provided some momentum with a six off Hossain in the seventh over. However, Hossain's timely wicket prevented a further surge in the Lankan innings.Mahedi Hasan also played a key role for Bangladesh, bowling a tidy over in the sixth over, conceding just three runs. Hasan's efforts helped restrict Sri Lanka to a modest total in the Powerplay.Sri Lanka's innings got off to a shaky start, with Taskin Ahmed dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva for 10 runs in the third over. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis then steadied the ship with a 30-run partnership, but Hossain's wicket broke the momentum.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit the conditions. Sri Lanka made three changes to their lineup, bringing in Dhanajaya de Silva, Nuwan Thushara, and Wanindu Hasaranga.Bangladesh fielded an unchanged squad, looking to secure a series victory after winning the first two matches. The third and final T20 will determine the series winner.

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, opted to bowl first in the third and decisive ODI against Sri Lanka at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The decision mirrored Shanto's choices in the previous two matches, which resulted in a 1-1 series tie.Sri Lanka's captain, Wanindu Hasaranga, who returned from a two-match suspension, echoed Shanto's decision, stating that he would have also chosen to bowl first if he had won the toss.The Bangladesh team remained unchanged, while Sri Lanka made three alterations to their lineup. Avishka Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dilshan Madushanka were replaced by Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Nuwan Thushara.The series is evenly poised at 1-1, making the third match crucial for both teams. Bangladesh's batting lineup features Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam.Sri Lanka's batting order includes Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, and Nuwan Thusara.The match promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure the series victory.

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, opted to field first in the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet. The hosts retained the same lineup that narrowly lost the first match by three runs.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, made one change, bringing in left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka for spinner Akila Dananjaya. Pitch expert Farvez Maharoof noted that the surface had a more even grass covering and that dew could potentially impact the game.In the first T20I, Sri Lanka successfully defended a total of 206, thanks to a last-ball thriller. Jaker Ali's blistering 68 off 34 balls had given Bangladesh a scare, but Dasun Shanaka's composed bowling in the 20th over sealed the victory for the visitors.Bangladesh XI:1. Litton Das (wk)2. Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)3. Soumya Sarkar4. Towhid Hridoy5. Mahmudullah6. Mahedi Hasan7. Jaker Ali8. Taskin Ahmed9. Rishad Hossain10. Mustafizur Rahman11. Shoriful IslamSri Lanka XI:1. Avishka Fernando2. Kusal Mendis (wk)3. Kamindu Mendis4. Sadeera Samarawickrama5. Charith Asalanka (capt.)6. Angelo Mathews7. Dasun Shanaka8. Maheesh Theekshana9. Dilshan Madushanka10. Binura Fernando11. Matheesha Pathirana

In a thrilling opening Twenty20 international of a three-match series in Sylhet on Monday, Sri Lanka emerged victorious over Bangladesh by a narrow margin of three runs. Chasing a challenging target of 207 runs, Bangladesh's lower middle-order batsman Jaker Ali played a valiant innings, scoring a maiden fifty and bringing his team close to victory. However, Sri Lanka's captain Dasun Shanaka displayed nerves of steel in the final over, claiming two crucial wickets to secure the win.Bangladesh's pursuit of the target began with a solid start, but former Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews made an early impact by dismissing two key batsmen. Mahmudullah Riyad then played a crucial role, striking a quickfire 54 off 31 balls to revive the home side's hopes. However, Shanaka's heroics in the final over proved decisive.Earlier, Sri Lanka had set a formidable total of 206-3 after being sent in to bat. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis played key roles, scoring fifties and sharing a 96-run partnership for the third wicket. Stand-in skipper Charith Asalanka also contributed with an unbeaten 44 from 21 balls.The series marks the start of Sri Lanka's month-long tour of Bangladesh, which will also include three one-day internationals and two Tests.

During the 2023 ODI World Cup, a controversial dismissal of Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews sparked a heated debate. Mathews was ruled "timed out" in a crucial match against Bangladesh, igniting a storm of controversy.The incident occurred in the 25th over when Mathews arrived at the crease after Sadeera Samarawickrama's dismissal. However, he realized he had the wrong helmet and attempted to rectify the situation with the Bangladesh players and umpires.Mathews indicated that the helmet strap had come off, but the damage had been done. Bangladesh appealed for a "timed out," and despite Mathews' animated protests, the appeal was not withdrawn.Mathews' frustration was evident as he threw his helmet in anger after leaving the field. Later, while bowling, he took the wicket of Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hasan and gestured towards his watch, a symbolic reference to the controversial dismissal.The incident resurfaced during a T20I match between the two teams in Sylhet, where Shoriful Islam mimicked Mathews' gesture after dismissing Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando.The series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is seen as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup in June. Bangladesh has never defeated Sri Lanka in a T20 series, adding to the significance of this encounter.