Opinion
The World Cup Super League resumes this Sunday, with Bangladesh hosting Sri Lanka.
The three-match series assumes importance for both teams as they look for crucial points on the road to the 2023 World Cup.
The two teams have contested 48 ODIs since their first meeting in 1985-86, of which Bangladesh have won only seven. Here is a look back at the Tigers’ seven ODI wins against their subcontinental rivals.
(Photo by Jono Searle – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Bogra, Bangladesh, 2005-06 – second ODI
After 15 ODI defeats to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh broke the duck at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 96, but lack of support meant that Sri Lanka were bowled out for 212.
The Bangladeshi reply was anchored by Javed Omar (40), Mohammad Ashraful (51) and captain Habibul Bashar (33) before a rapid 32* from Aftab Ahmed completed a rare four-wicket win for the Tigers in the 47th over.
Bangladesh tri-series, Dhaka, 2008-09 – third ODI
Having lost the opening game to Zimbabwe, Bangladesh needed to win to have hope of reaching the final of this short tri-series. In a rain-hit 31-over affair, Sri Lanka were all out for 147 thanks to the pace duo of Mashrafe Mortaza (3-25) and Rubel Hossain (4-33).
Bangladesh wobbled to 11=3 in response, but Shakib Al Hasan slammed 92* in just 69 balls to guide them to a five-wicket win with 43 balls to spare.
Asia Cup, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2011-12 – sixth ODI
Buoyed by victory against India, Bangladesh continued to delight their supporters at the Shere Bangla Stadium. A testing new-ball spell from Nazmul Hossain (3-32) ensured that Sri Lanka were restricted to 232, after which Tamim Iqbal (59) and Shakib (56) delivered a five-wicket win, with Bangladesh facing a reduced target of 212 in 40 overs.
This result enabled the Tigers to reach the Asia Cup final for the first time.
Pallekele, Sri Lanka, 2012-13 – third ODI
Bangladesh’s first away win against Sri Lanka tied the series 1-1. Powered by Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 125, the Lions piled up 9-302, with left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak taking 5-62.
Bangladesh were 1-78 in the 14th over when rain arrived, reducing the target to 183 in 27 overs. After Anamul Haque fell for 40, breezy knocks from Jahurul Islam and Nasir Hossain (33*) steered them to a three-wicket win in the 26th over.
Dambulla, Sri Lanka, 2016-17 – first ODI
Bangladesh began this three-match series in style, less than a week after beating Sri Lanka in a Test for the first time. Their innings revolved around Tamim Iqbal – the southpaw opener’s 127 off 142 balls, aided by fifties from Sabbir Rahman (54) and Shakib (72), carried the total to an imposing 5-324.
Sri Lanka slipped to 3-31 in the 11th over and never really recovered, with the innings terminating at 234 in the 46th over.
Bangladesh Tri-Series, Dhaka, 2017-18 – third ODI
A commanding team effort from Bangladesh gave them their biggest ODI victory by 163 runs – this was surpassed by their 169-run win over Zimbabwe at Sylhet in 2019-20. The senior trio of Tamim (84), Shakib (67) and Mushfiqur Rahim (62) combined to boost the total to 7-320, after which the bowlers struck at regular intervals.
The last five wickets fell for only 40 as Sri Lanka subsided to a meagre 157 in 32.2 overs.
Asia Cup, Dubai, UAE, 2018 – first ODI
When Rahim came in Bangladesh were two down for just one run. Soon afterwards Tamim retired hurt to add to their woes. However, the diminutive wicketkeeper-batsman was undeterred and went on to play one of the finest innings in Asia Cup history, a career-best 144 off 150 balls.
His third-wicket stand of 131 with Mohammad Mithun (63) took the total to 261. In reply, Sri Lanka crashed to 4-38 before being bowled out for 124.
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