The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is the 13th edition of the flagship event of the international cricket calendar. The tournament will be held in India from 5 October to 19 November, featuring 10 teams competing in a round-robin format followed by the knockouts.
One of the most anticipated matches of the tournament is the clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which will take place on 6 November at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This will be the 38th match of the league stage and a crucial one for both teams as they aim to secure a spot in the top four.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have a long and competitive history in ODI cricket, having played 48 matches against each other since 1986. Sri Lanka have the edge over Bangladesh with 39 wins, while Bangladesh have seven victories. Two matches have ended in no result.
In World Cup matches, however, Bangladesh have a slight advantage over Sri Lanka with two wins out of three encounters. Bangladesh broke their World Cup jinx against Sri Lanka in 2015, when they beat them by 23 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The last time these two teams met in an ODI was in March 2017, when the third match of a three-game series was washed out due to rain in Colombo. The series was tied at 1-1, with Bangladesh winning the first match by 90 runs and Sri Lanka winning the second match by 70 runs.
Bangladesh are ranked seventh in the ICC ODI rankings, with a rating of 91. They have never reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, despite making their debut in 1999. They are also known for their inconsistency and unpredictability in big tournaments.
Bangladesh have a talented batting line-up, led by captain Tamim Iqbal, who is the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in ODI history with 7,471 runs at an average of 36.74. He is also the leading run-getter for Bangladesh in World Cup matches, with 717 runs at an average of 35.85.
Other key batsmen for Bangladesh include Mushfiqur Rahim, who is ranked 14th in the ICC ODI batting rankings, with 6,521 runs in 227 matches at an average of 36.77. He is also one of the most experienced and reliable performers for Bangladesh in recent times.
Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan are also capable of scoring big runs and providing stability and firepower to the Bangladeshi batting order.
Bangladesh’s bowling attack is spearheaded by Mustafizur Rahman, who is ranked ninth in the ICC ODI bowling rankings, with 122 wickets in 67 matches at an average of 23.21. He is also known for his variations and yorkers in the death overs.
Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin and Shoriful Islam are also reliable seamers who can swing the ball and pick up wickets. Bangladesh’s spin options include Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is ranked fourth in the ICC ODI bowling rankings, with 105 wickets in 50 matches at an average of 25.37. He can also trouble any batting line-up with his accuracy and turn.
Sri Lanka are ranked ninth in the ICC ODI rankings, with a rating of 83. They have won the World Cup once in 1996, and reached the finals twice more in 2007 and 2011. They are also known for their flair and aggression in limited-overs cricket.
Sri Lanka have a balanced squad, with experienced players and young talents. Their batting line-up is led by Kusal Perera, who is ranked 16th in the ICC ODI batting rankings, with 3,011 runs in 107 matches at an average of 31.17. He is also the wicket-keeper and captain of the team.
Other key batsmen for Sri Lanka include Avishka Fernando, who is ranked 18th in the ICC ODI batting rankings, with 1,115 runs in 28 matches at an average of 41.29. He is also one of the most explosive and consistent openers for Sri Lanka in recent times.
Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka are also solid batsmen who can anchor or accelerate the innings as per the situation.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack is spearheaded by Wanindu Hasaranga, who is ranked second in the ICC ODI bowling rankings, with 54 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 21.64. He is also one of the best leg-spinners and all-rounders in the world.
Other key bowlers for Sri Lanka include Dushmantha Chameera, who is ranked 10th in the ICC ODI bowling rankings, with 60 wickets in 43 matches at an average of 29.63. He is also one of the fastest and most aggressive bowlers in the world.
Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne are also promising seamers who can provide pace and bounce and exploit the Indian conditions. Sri Lanka’s spin options include Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lakshan Sandakan, who can offer variety and control.
Based on the head-to-head record, recent form and performance, Sri Lanka are the favourites to win the match against Bangladesh. They have a stronger and more settled squad, with more depth and experience. They also have the advantage of playing in similar conditions to their home country.
The betting odds for Sri Lanka to win the match are 1.99, while the odds for Bangladesh to win are 1.82.
The betting odds for Sri Lanka to score more than 300 runs in the first innings are 2.50, while the odds for Bangladesh to score more than 300 runs in the first innings are 2.75.
The betting odds for Kusal Perera to be the top batsman for Sri Lanka are 3.50, while the odds for Tamim Iqbal to be the top batsman for Bangladesh are 4.00.
The betting odds for Wanindu Hasaranga to be the top bowler for Sri Lanka are 3.00, while the odds for Mustafizur Rahman to be the top bowler for Bangladesh are 3.50.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka is one of the most exciting and competitive matches of the World Cup 2023. Both teams have world-class players and a lot of talent and potential. However, Sri Lanka have an edge over Bangladesh in terms of form, confidence and familiarity with the conditions. Therefore, we predict that Sri Lanka will win the match and boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
December 4, 2024