Sports
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka: Can the Tigers turn around a one-sided rivalry?
Sri Lanka’s Test record against Bangladesh is one of near-complete dominance, but could that be about to change in the World Test Championship?
The WTC returns on May 15 with Bangladesh targeting a first-ever series win over Sri Lanka.
The Tigers will host back-to-back Tests, the first at Chattogram and the second in Mirpur, and will need to make history if they are to pull away from England at the foot of the WTC Standings.
Since Sri Lanka and Bangladesh first met in the longest format in 2001 it has been one-way traffic, with Sri Lanka winning 17 and losing just one of their 22 total meetings.
We take a look at some of the historical talking points from Sri Lanka’s two decades of dominance.
Muttiah Muralitharan’s record against the Tigers was remarkable.
In 11 matches he took 11 five-wicket hauls, picking up ten wickets in a match on four separate occasions.
Murali took a hatful of wickets against every single opposition, averaging less than 26 against all-but India and Australia. But his lowest average against a single opponent came against Bangladesh, with his 89 wickets coming at just 13.37.
SANGAKKARA’S SUBLIME RECORD
One batter dominates the run-scoring charts between these nations, with Kumar Sangakkara head and shoulders clear of the next best on the all-time list.
The Sri Lankan legend’s dominance against Bangladesh was extraordinary. In 21 innings he scored 1816 runs, with Mahela Jayawardene’s 1146 the next highest by any batter on either side.
Sangakkara’s runs came at an eye-watering average of 95.57, and at a decent lick too, scored at a strike-rate just a touch under 60.
A batter has notched up a double-ton eight times in fixtures between these two nations, and three of those innings were by the brilliant left-hander.
And he also holds the record for the highest individual score in Tests between the two, with his 319 in Chattogram in 2014 being the biggest knock of his career.
(ICC)
Zimbabwe remain undefeated against Australia in T20 World Cups after a career-best bowling display from Blessing Muzabarani and a gutsy 64 not out from Brian Bennett helped orchestrate a stunning 23-run win in Colombo and throw group B into chaos.
Muzarabani took 4 for 17 from four overs, ripping out the top order alongside Brad Evans in the powerplay who also took 3 for 23, as Australia never really looked close to chasing Zimbabwe’s impressive 169 for 2 on a slow pitch that had been set up by even contributions from the top four.
Matt Renshaw’s 65 off 44 gave Australia hope but on top of the polished display with bat and ball they also fielded superbly to restrict Australia and threaten their Super Eight hopes.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 169 for 2 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 64*, Tadiwanashe Marumani 35, Ryan Burl 35, Sikandar Raza 25*; Marcus Stoinis 1-17, Cameron Green 1-06) beat Australia 146 in 19.3 overs (Travis Head 17, Glenn Maxwell 31, Matt Renshaw 65; Blessing Muzarabani 4-17, Brad Evans 3-23, Wellington Masakadza 1-36, Ryan Burl 1-09) by 23 runs
[Cricinfo]
After running India close in their opening game in Mumbai, USA were outplayed by Pakistan in Colombo in their second. A third successive defeat, against Netherlands on Friday, will knock them out of contention for the Super Eight stage. History is also against USA: they have not beaten Netherlands in three attempts in men’s T20Is.
USA had earlier given New Zealand a scare during the warm-up fixture in Navi Mumbai, but injuries have weakened them since. Fast bowler Ali Khan is nursing a groin injury while Jasdeep Singh (shoulder injury) has been ruled out of the rest of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with former Pakistan fast bowler Ehsan Adil replacing him in the side. Adil was thrown into the XI straightaway in the second game, but ended up conceding 39 runs in three overs against the country of his birth at the Premadasa. It remains to be seen if Shubham Ranjane, who had hurt his knee, is back to full fitness.
USA are yet to nail down their opening combination: Saiteja Mukkamalla was left out after just one failure, against India. He was their most prolific batter in the lead-up to this World Cup and hit 50 off 31 balls in the warm-up match against New Zealand.
Netherlands will be high on confidence after easing past Namibia on the back of Bas de Leede’s all-round effort in Delhi. They bat deep, with Roelof van der Merwe listed at No. 9, and also have a surfeit of bowling options. That depth was central to giving Pakistan a scare in the tournament opener. Netherlands are also familiar with Chennai conditions – their entire squad trained at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in the city for around a week last month.
Picked as the only frontline left-arm spinner in the Netherlands side, ahead of Daniel Doram and Tim Pringle, Roleof van der Merwe followed up his 1 for 13 in three overs against Pakistan with 0 for 22 in two overs against Namibia. The 41-year-old could play a big role against a right-hand-batter heavy USA line-up.
Saurabh Netravalkar’s Mumbai homecoming was far from sweet: he ended up leaking 65 runs in his four overs for no wickets – the most by a bowler in an innings in the T20 World Cup. The left-arm seamer fared much better in USA’s next game against Pakistan, and will look to return to his best against Netherlands.
There’s no reason for Netherlands to tweak their winning combination unless there are any injuries or illnesses in their camp, though veteran Max O’Dowd has been below par.
Netherlands (probable): Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (capt, wk), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaasen
If Ali Khan is fit, he could potentially come back in place of Adil. There might be a toss-up between Mukkamalla and Shayan Jahangir for the opening slot.
USA (probable): Andries Gous (wk), Shayan Jahangir/Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (capt), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi , Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh , Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan/Ehsan Adil
Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” departs island
Muzarabani, Bennett orchestrate famous Zimbabwe win
“We will not make decisions for rural level schools while sitting in Colombo” – PM
USA need to overturn history to beat Netherlands and stay alive
Paul Stirling ruled out of World Cup with knee injury
The silent pace revolution in Sri Lanka
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features6 days agoMy experience in turning around the Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) – Episode 3
-
Business7 days agoZone24x7 enters 2026 with strong momentum, reinforcing its role as an enterprise AI and automation partner
-
Business6 days agoRemotely conducted Business Forum in Paris attracts reputed French companies
-
Business6 days agoFour runs, a thousand dreams: How a small-town school bowled its way into the record books
-
Business6 days agoComBank and Hayleys Mobility redefine sustainable mobility with flexible leasing solutions
-
Business3 days agoAutodoc 360 relocates to reinforce commitment to premium auto care
-
Midweek Review3 days agoA question of national pride
-
Business7 days agoHNB recognized among Top 10 Best Employers of 2025 at the EFC National Best Employer Awards