That’s enough from me then. Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are out of the tournament now, but that was one feisty encounter. Next up: Australia take on Afghanistan, so make sure you’re back here tomorrow. Cheers!
Shakib has his say on the Matthews wicket: “One of our fielders came to me and said, if you appeal now it will be out. Then I appealed, and the umpire asked me whether I’m serious, whether I’m going to take it back or not.
It’s in the laws. Right or wrong, there will be debates, but if it’s in the rules I don’t mind taking those chances.”
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Shakib’s the Player of the Match for his 2-57 and 82. He’s not asked in the post-match presentation about the Mathews incident – though that’ll presumably follow when he speaks with the captain’s hat on.
After all of that, though, this remains the most significant event of today.
Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by three wickets!
Flicked down the leg side four and that’s that – Bangladesh have their second win of the tournament. They threatened to make it dramatic at the end – but a 169-run stand between Shakib and Shanto set them up beautifully. Sri Lanka are now definitely out of the World Cup.
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41st over: Bangladesh 278-7 (Tanzim 5, Hridoy 15) Tanzim, the man in at No 9, plays a ridiculously good shot to get off the mark, chipping straight down the ground for four. And then there’s a flick down the leg side for four – or rather, four leg byes. Sri Lanka review it, with hope rather than logic, as it’s clearly not out.
WICKET! Mehidy c Asalanka b Theekshana 3 (Bangladesh 269-7)
Bangladesh, what are you doing?! Mehidy provides a simple catch to the man at long-off and Silverwood’s clapping again.
40th over: Bangladesh 268-6 (Mehidy 3, Hridoy 15) Hridoy wallops Madushanka across the line for six! That’s some shot – he’s moved to 12 with two big hits. A full toss follows, and they take three off it. Bangladesh need 12 from 60 balls.
39th over: Bangladesh 256-6 (Mehidy 1, Hridoy 6) It’s getting nervy out there. Bangladesh need 24 from 66.
WICKET! Mahmudullah b Theekshana 22 (Bangladesh 255-6)
Theekshana yorks Mahmudullah! Chris Silverwood looks a happy man in the dugout – Sri Lanka believe.
38th over: Bangladesh 255-5 (Mahmudullah 22, Hridoy 6) What a way to get off the mark! Hridoy launches a straight six to close the over, and then words are had between the two teams, with some finger-wagging from Kusal Mendis – it’s been heated all night.
WICKET! Mushfiqur b Madushanka 10 (Bangladesh 249-5)
Madushanka, from around the wicket, gets the ball to just jag in slightly and bowl Mushfiqur. Once again, I am asking for some more drama.
37th over: Bangladesh 247-4 (Mushfiqur 8, Mahmudullah 22) Mahmudullah is spoiling any hopes of a dramatic Sri Lankan comeback. He swings Chameera over midwicket for a one-bounce four, and then makes room for a beautiful shot over cover for another boundary. Bangladesh need 33 from 78 balls.
36th over: Bangladesh 232-4 (Mahmudullah 13, Mushfiqur 7) Mahmudullah shimmies down to Mathews to swing across the line and find four. The Bangladesh right-hander has had a fine tournament, having hit a ton against South Africa and produced three more scores above 40.
35th over: Bangladesh 224-4 (Mushfiqur 4, Mahmudullah 8) Madushanka returns and goes short to Mahmudullah, who pulls over fine leg for six. Bangladesh need 56 from 90 balls.
34th over: Bangladesh 216-4 (Mahmudullah 0, Mushfiqur 4) Mathews, with his dibbly-dobblers, now looks a nightmare to face, but Mushfiqur closes the over with a beautiful drive through the covers for four. Bangladesh need 64 from 96 balls.
WICKET! Shanto b Mathews 90 (Bangladesh 211-4)
Scrap that – IT’S GAME ON! Shanto tries to poke Mathews to third man but drags the ball onto his stumps. Suddenly, Sri Lanka are in this and Mathews, the story of the day for his innings that never happened, is leading the way.
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33rd over: Bangladesh 211-3 (Shanto 90, Mahmudullah 0) Theekshana’s offering a bit of control from his end now – game on? Probs not. Bangladesh need 69 from 17 overs.
32nd over: Bangladesh 210-3 (Shanto 89, Mahmudullah 0) Mathews delivers a wicket maiden, ending a partnership of 169. Bangladesh need 70 from 18 overs.
WICKET! Shakib c Asalanka b Mathews 82 (Bangladesh 210-3)
Haha no way! Mathews gets Shakib, with a leading edge finding the diving fielder at short extra cover. Mathews, to rub it in, points to his wristband as if it’s a watch. That’s jokes – but Shakib’s already won this game I reckon.
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31st over: Bangladesh 210-2 (Shakib 82, Shanto 89) And it all goes quiet for a bit: Theekshana concedes just three.
30th over: Bangladesh 206-2 (Shanto 86, Shakib 81) Shanto – for about the gazillionth time today – nails a pull shot for four. Shakib then plays what’s probably his best shot of the day, basically paddling Rajitha behind square on the leg side all the way for six. A drive down the ground is the next shot, running away for four. And then this is the cherry on top: Shakib, with one hand off the bat, goes straight again, down to the long-off rope. That’s a huge over, with 19 coming off it.
Bangladesh need 74 from 120 balls.
29th over: Bangladesh 187-2 (Shanto 81, Shakib 67) They’ve had another drinks break, but there’s no change in the rhythm of this game – Shakib carves Chameera over the off side for another boundary.
“James Higgott [see after 25th over] is, presumably, not emailing in from Utrecht?” asks Tom Hopkins. Ah yes, justice for Scott Edwards.
28th over: Bangladesh 181-2 (Shakib 62, Shanto 80) Short from Theekshana, and Shakib cuts behind point for his ninth four. The onslaught continues, and it’s time for the countdown: Bangladesh need 99 from 22 overs.
27th over: Bangladesh 173-2 (Shanto 79, Shakib 55) Six Sri Lanka players surround the umpires, presumably because they’re not too happy about the state of the ball? Shakib is hovering around, and tries to get involved too. He absolutely loves the drama, doesn’t he? Chameera bounces in for his sixth over, and Shakib pulls away for four – these two batters are the loving the short ball tonight.
26th over: Bangladesh 168-2 (Shanto 78, Shakib 51) Shanto sweeps Dhananjaya for four before making room for an off-side thwack that gives him two.
I really like this from Alistair Connor: “I suggest we cobble together a « rest of the world XI » who could give India a game in the final. For openers : Quinton de Kock, and Rachin Ravindra. Over to the rest of the OBO team…”
“For my team of the tournament so far I’ve picked at least 1 player from each country,” writes James Higgott. “This means I have quite a long tail but at least there’s a second proper wicket-keeper in case de Kock scores an early ton and doesn’t fancy keeping.”
1. Quinton de Kock (SA)
2. David Warner (Aus)
3. Rachin Ravindra (NZ)
4. Virat Kohli (Ind)
5. Shakib Al Hasan (Ban)
6. Mohammed Rizwan (Pak)
7. Marco Jansen (SA)
8. David Willey (Eng)
9. Mohammed Nabi (Afg)
10. Dilshan Madushanka (SL)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (Ind)
Some fair calls in there – maybe Mahmudullah instead of Shakib, though?
Half-century for Shakib!
25th over: Bangladesh 161-2 (Shanto 71, Shakib 51) Shakib gets an outside edge… but it runs away for four. And that’s his half-century, too!
24th over: Bangladesh 153-2 (Shakib 45, Shanto 69) The boundaries continue to flow, with Shanto sweeping Dhananjaya fine for four.
23rd over: Bangladesh 147-2 (Shanto 64, Shakib 44) Mathews continues and Shakib and Shanto nurdle him around, nabbing five singles and a two. All rather comfortable this for Bangladesh.
22nd over: Bangladesh 140-2 (Shanto 59, Shakib 42) Dhananjaya de Silva’s off-breaks enter the game and Shakib pulls away to deep midwicket for four.
Regarding my request for your teams of the tournament, Sriram Prasad has a pretty simple answer: “I have followed the OBO for some time now but this question just seems rhetorical. I mean just put in India’s current playing eleven as the team of the tournament so far...” Yeah, fair enough – harsh on Quinton de Kock, though.
Half-century for Shanto!
21st over: Bangladesh 133-2 (Shanto 57, Shakib 37) Mathews returns to bowl against Shakib, turning this into a battle of egos. The Bangladesh captain skips down the pitch immediately to take a single, before Shanto shows off his quick hands to pull away for four and bring up his half-century. Another swipe across the leg-side follows with the next ball, and that’ll be four more.
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20th over: Bangladesh 123-2 (Shakib 36, Shanto 48) Rajitha quietens things down for Sri Lanka, conceding four singles – but they could really do with a wicket right now.
19th over: Bangladesh 119-2 (Shanto 46, Shakib 34) Shanto drives and gets an edge that flies high and away for four. Shakib joins in on the fun, swivelling to turn Madushanka around the corner on the leg-side for a boundary. Bangladesh look in control here.
18th over: Bangladesh 108-2 (Shanto 40, Shakib 29) Shanto looks pretty comfortable against the short ball; this time it’s Rajitha who gets pulled to the boundary. A glorious straight drive over mid-on follows.
17th over: Bangladesh 97-2 (Shanto 30, Shakib 28) Shanto pulls Madushanka away for four, and that’s the 50 partnership up between these two left-handers.
Just for a little fun, does anyone fancy sending me their team of the tournament so far?
“There’s a very simple solution to the ‘spirit of cricket’ debate,” writes Nick Parish. “If a technically correct but seemingly unfair decision goes in favour of your team, remind everyone of the importance of the laws of cricket. If it goes against your team, remind everyone of the importance of the spirit of cricket. Simples.” Ha, very true.
16th over: Bangladesh 90-2 (Shanto 25, Shakib 28) Shakib sweeps Theekshana away for four and then slaps away behind point for another boundary. He’s starting to motor and there’s perhaps a touch of anger in how he’s striking the ball, pushing at it rather than letting it come onto the bat.
15th over: Bangladesh 81-2 (Shanto 24, Shakib 20) Shanto packs a real punch with a cross-bat swing down the ground for four off the bowling of Chameera. A deft touch to third man keeps him on strike for the next set.
14th over: Bangladesh 75-2 (Shakib 19, Shanto 19) Oooh, there’s plenty of needle out there. Sadeera and Shanto have some words with each other as Theekshana returns for a bowl. Time for drinks.
13th over: Bangladesh 72-2 (Shanto 18, Shakib 18) Mathews, currently in revenge mode, doesn’t actually get to bowl against Shakib as five dots to Shanto are followed by a single.
12th over: Bangladesh 71-2 (Shanto 17, Shakib 18) A cracking shot from Shakib, who moves across his stumps before swivelling to pull Chameera away for six over fine leg. He then finds four behind square on the off side, pushing a bit too hard at the ball but getting away with it.
11th over: Bangladesh 61-2 (Shakib 8, Shanto 17) Oh, I do love the drama. Mathews is on to bowl against Shakib… and he’s dropped! Shakib swipes at the ball and Asalanka can’t hold on, diving to his left at short extra cover.
10th over: Bangladesh 57-2 (Shanto 14, Shakib 7) Chameera is looking like a real handful already, and he closes his second over with a jaffa that nips away from Shakib.
“Angelo Mathews being timed out today has reminded me of when David Steele made his debut in 1975 at Lord’s against Australia,” writes John. “On his way out to the crease, he famously went down two flights of stairs instead of one and finished in the toilets. Presumably if the letter of the law had been applied, Steele would have been timed out and never gone on to become BBC Sports Personality that year!”
9th over: Bangladesh 54-2 (Shakib 6, Shanto 13) Shanto shows some initiative to skip down the pitch to Madushanka, flicking through the leg side for four.
8th over: Bangladesh 48-2 (Shanto 8, Shakib 5) Dushmantha Chameera is into the attack, and he’s on the money until his final ball of the over, with Shakib pulling away for four.
7th over: Bangladesh 43-2 (Shanto 7, Shakib 1) Shakib is in – get Angelo on now! Madushanka sends in a bumper and Shakib fends at it awkwardly, but the ball lands safely on the leg side.
WICKET! Das lbw Madushanka 23 (Bangladesh 41-2)
Madushanka strikes again! He goes full, swings it in and nails Das on the toes. The finger goes up, and there’s no need to review it.
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6th over: Bangladesh 41-1 (Das 23, Shanto 6) Kasun Rajitha enters the game and unleashes a pearler, moving the ball away from Das to beat the outside edge. The batter responds well, though, pulling the next ball all the way for six! And then another big hit! Das goes down the pitch and smacks straight for another six, but he’s also hurt himself while doing that. Looks like he’s cramped up in his right calf. It’s all happening here in Delhi. After a pause in play, Das resumes, taking a single with his next delivery.
The latest banger being belted out on the ground sound system:
5th over: Bangladesh 28-1 (Das 10, Shanto 6) Madushanka is getting some laavely shape away from Shanto, the left-hander. Maiden. Just heard this tune being played at the ground – thoroughly enjoyable, would recommend.
4th over: Bangladesh 28-1 (Shanto 6, Das 10) Theekshana is too short, and Shanto punishes him with a cut for four. The spinner sorts his length out quickly and concedes just one from his next five balls.
3rd over: Bangladesh 23-1 (Shanto 1, Das 10) Madushanka, a raw, promising talent who keeps picking up wickets in this tournament, does get a bit of swing but doesn’t mind dragging back his length too. And, just as I write that, he’s denied a second wicket! It’s a bouncer to Das, who pulls straight to fine leg where Kusal Perera should hold on – but doesn’t. Instead the ball runs away for four. Meanwhile Das appears to have hurt himself while playing that stroke, so the doc comes out, but he’s OK to keep on going.
WICKET! Tanzid c Nissanka b Madushanka 9 (Bangladesh 17-1)
Very loose from Tanzid. It’s wide from Madushanka, and the left-hander throws the bat at it, but very unconvincingly. The ball flies high and Nissanka, in the cover-point region, holds on easily.
Photograph: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images
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2nd over: Bangladesh 17-0 (Tanzid 9, Das 6) Theekshana takes the ball from the other end, and Das immediately flicks the ball behind square on the leg side for four. The spinner, getting some tasty drift into the right-handed Das, then concedes a wide and a couple of singles.
1st over: Bangladesh 10-0 (Tanzid 8, Das 1) Tanzid is the first man to find four, poking outside off and getting enough on it to travel over point. The next shot is more authoritative, with the left-hander skipping down the pitch to slap towards the long-on rope for another boundary.
OK, we’re about to get underway. Mathews is having a chat with the umpire – I wonder what that’s about. Dilshan Madushanka will open up for Sri Lanka, with Tanzid Hasan to face.
“You will cover more on Angelo Matthews than on the Bangladesh chase in all probability,” writes krishnamoorthy v. “One Trevor Chappell is going to be sleeping well tonight.”
I’ll level with you – I absolutely despise getting bogged down in the whole Spirit of Cricket v Laws debate, especially when it comes to run-outs at the non-striker’s end. It’s a pain to read about on social media and, you know, there are just bigger things to worry about.
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Thanks very much, Daniel. Well, I thought this was going to be a quiet one. Instead, I’m now eagerly looking forward to watching Angelo Mathews bowl to Shakib.
I’ve amended below, but in a late change, allow me to present to you Taha Hashim, here instead of Tanya for the chase.
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Oh, Asalanka says he doesn’t think the Mathews dismissal was good for the spirit of cricket, and that when he was batting he was looking for 300 but also thinks his team have enough
Righto, my watch is over; Taha Hashim will be with you presently to commandeer the chase. Peace out.
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Sri Lanka set Bangladesh 280 to win!
Few than it should’ve been, fewer than it looked like being … but probably enough.
WICKET! Chameera run out (Mushfiqur) 4 (Sri Lanka 279 all out)
Madushanka misses his pull, they try a single, and the keeper does the rest.
50th over: Sri Lanka 279-9 (Chameera 4, Madushanka 0) Shoriful will bowl the final over and Chameera top-edges its second delivery; they run one.
WICKET! Rajitha c Das b Tanzim 0 (Sri Lanka 278-9)
Another testing short ball from Tanzim and Rajitha can do nothing apart form pull. It’s a decent effort too, Das taking a good catch running along the fence; he’s not there, it’s six.
WICKET! Asalanka c Das b Tanzim 108 (Sri Lanka 278-8)
Asalanka flays another short one high into the off side, and Das steps back to hold chest0high, on the point fence. What a knock that was, but, calm, composed and clean – exactly what his team needed.
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49th over: Sri Lanka 278-7 (Asalanka 1o8, Chameera 3) Aslanka doesn’t get all of a short one from Tanzim and they run a single, then another when Chameera’s leading edge drops safe at square leg. With the centurion back on strike, Tanzim takes pace off … and Asalanka reads him, dropping deep in the crease to smite six over midwicket!
Charith Asalanka reaches his century!
48th over: Sri Lanka 270-7 (Asalanka 1o1, Chameera 2) Chameera grilles a single, then Asalanka misses with a pull before gloving over the keeper’s leap for four. There’s still plenty of juice in this track and the dew will have the ball skidding on for the Bangladeshi batters but for now, let’s enjoy a Sri Lankan one, Asalanka forcing around the corner, hauling Chameera back for two, and that’s his ton! He’s batted superbly I must say, hitting so cleanly right from the start, and I’d be surprised if his knock isn’t a matchwinner.
47th over: Sri Lanka 262-7 (Asalanka 94, Chameera 1) Some batters trust the tail and others don’t; Asalanka seems to be in the former camp, flicking two to midwicket before taking a single and leaving his partner four balls to attack; they yield a solitary single to long on. I’m sure he’ll get to his ton in the remaining three overs, but time is ticking.
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WICKET! Theeksana c sub (Nasum) b Shoriful 22 (Sri Lanka 258-7)
A well-directed short one gets big on Theeksana, who ramps and gets a bit too much of the ball, picking out the man on the fence at deep third.
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46th over: Sri Lanka 258-6 (Asalanka 91, Theeksana 22) Shoriful returns and after a leg bye and a single, Theeksana – increasingly comfy at the crease – absolutely chleanses him through cover for four.
45th over: Sri Lanka 252-6 (Asalanka 90, Theeksana 17) Shakib returns and concedes three singles off the first five balls; can Theeksana find a boundary off the the sixth? He cannot, a single to cover point all he can mange, but I’d not be surprised if Sri Lanka enough runs already. Increasingly, though, it looks like the main aim is to bat through rather than throw the bat, which makes sense: it’s unlikely Bangladesh are chasing 300, so it makes more sense to get that than aim for 340 and end up with 270.
44th over: Sri Lanka 248-6 (Asalanka 88, Theeksana 15) Asalanka middles one … and picks out the man at extra so Theeksana shows him harizdun, gloving a bouncer over the keeper’s head for four! But he’s hurt his hand – his bowling hand too, and immediately calls for the physio. I’m not surprised either, because looking at a replay, he properly tried to pull that, ramming bone rather than willow into cork. He’ll be fine though, getting off strike with a thrash to the off-side sweeper – they run one – then Asalanka chases another, less well-directed bumper, helping it around the corner and over fine leg for six. A single follows, then Theeksana narrowly avoids edging behind, making it 13 off the over; Asalanka is playing a tremendous knock here.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 235-6 (Asalanka 80, Theeksana 10) Good work from Taskin, who goes short to Theeksana but on a tight line; his first three balls are dots. But he just about forces a slower one wide of midwicket, looking to sweep to fine leg, and Sri Lanka needed the four it brings; two more follow to third via opened face. Taskin finishes with 0-39 off 10, his opening spell very good indeed. Will Asalanka gets after it next over?
42nd over: Sri Lanka 229-6 (Asalanka 80, Theeksana 4) Tanzim repklaces Miraz, bowled out with 1-49 off his 10; a single to Asalanka, flipped to midwicket, then a wide, then another single to Theeksana, shoved to cover.
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41st over: Sri Lanka 226-5 (Asalanka 79, Theeksana 3) Another economical over from Taskin – whose name makes me think of Tosker from Our Friends in the North every time I see it – three singles from it.
“Have just flicked on the OBO and seen the Mathews stramash,” emails Andrew Benzeval. “Looking at it from a Bangladesh point of view, teams get penalised for failing to bowl their overs in time, so I can see why they would then appeal for that reason alone rather than wait minutes for him to fix it. Conversely, as Mathews appears to have been ready and then realised he wasn’t, how is that different to a player making his guard and then, say, asking for sightscreens to be moved? Good job not more is riding on this one, I’d say.”
It’s different because it’s player equipment, but I agree Mathews could probably have found a way of not having that happen to him – beyond checking his gear was good to go.
40th over: Sri Lanka 223-6 (Asalanka 77, Theeksana 2 )Thing is, Asalanka is middling everything, – most recently a cut for four to deep third – so why wouldn’t he unload the suitcase, especially given 346 is the average score batting first in this competition; Three singles follow,
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39th over: Sri Lanka 216-6 (Asalanka 71, Theeksana 1) Taskin returns with Asalanka on strike and the batter has a problem: does he try and score, or try and bat through? So far, it’s the latter, three singles all the batters can manage.
Double Decker debut! Back down to Mumbai for #cwc23 Australia v Afghanistan at Wankhede tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/nY845OOTnz
— Phil Long (@onebillionrs) November 6, 2023
“There has always been tension between these two sides,” reminds Arul Kanhere. “There was the infamous ‘Naagin - dance celebration’ which roughly means dancing like a snake that Bangladesh employed and then SL Cricket uploaded India’s jailbreak of a run-chase against Bangladesh from the same competition – in which a lot of Lankans were cheering for India.
This is just adding fuel to fire and, well, I want to see a Mankad now coz why not?
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WICKET! De Silva st Mushfiqur c Miraz 34 (Sri Lanka 213-6)
Bangladesh needed that! De Silva wanders way down, Miraz drags down, and the batter can’t introduce bat to ball, caught so far down Mushfiqur has time to fumble before breaking the stumps. The umpires want to check the ball was in his gloves at the time, but it’s fine.
38th over: Sri Lanka 213-5 (Asalanka 69, De Silva 34) A single, then De Silva sweeps four.
37th over: Sri Lanka 208-5 (Asalanka 68, De Silva 30) Four singles, then Dhananjaya backs away towards leg and gets right underneath the ball, larruping the returning Shakib over midwicket for six! A forward defensive follows, and 10 off the over leave Sri Lanka in a strong position – but add two wickets and they’re in all sorts, which is to say this match is beautifully balanced.
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36th over: Sri Lanka 198-5 (Asalanka 66, De Silva 22) Miraz returns and will take the two singles he concedes. The batters, though, look in decent control out there; and I imagine they’ll open shoulders before long – they’ll want another 100, at least.
35th over: Sri Lanka 196-5 (Asalanka 65, De Silva 21) Taskin replaces Tanzim and sends down an economical over, one from it, then De Silva stands and delivers, waiting to dismiss a short, full one from his countenance, for four through midwicket. The partnership is 61 off 64, and so far the dismissal of Mathews has worked quite nicely for the Lankans.
“He was in fact ready to bat, THEN noticed his strap,’ writes Peter Metcalfe. “Three minutes normally, two minutes in the World Cup, but irrelevant as he was ready at some point.”
Also, Shakib is hardly Patrick Patterson. Face one ball, then deal.
34th over: Sri Lanka 191-5 (Asalanka 64, De Silva 17) Shoriful replaces Miraz, ceding two singles and a wide. Back to the spirit thing, I don’t buy that the players have a responsibility to the game – the game is fine. Rather, the responsibility is to themselves, and they made the choice that they wanted to win regardless. De Silva then takes two to backward point and though the throw breaks the stumps, a review reveals he was well back.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 186-5 ( Asalanka 63, De Silva 15) I’m enjoying Asalanka a lot, and he pulls Tanzim’s first ball to square leg for four, then aborts a quick single; with a direct hit, he was in trouble. Instead, though, he waits for one and cuts behind square on the off side for four, and I don’t know what I’d do if I was him: on the one hand, he needs to stay in, but on the other, everything he hits is staying hit. And have a look! After a single, De Silva goes to pull a bouncer and top-edges four more, a single follows, and that’s 14 from the over, the fifty parthership raised . There’s scope for a big score here, but Bangladesh will doubtless be plotting a handled ball or hit-ball-twice dismissal for their next trick.
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32nd over: Sri Lanka 172-5 ( Asalanka 54, De Silva 10) Below is the law in question; imagine the fury in the Long Room! What a shame SJ Broad wasn’t somehow involved, bets he’s bristling somewhere in the world. Miraz twirls through his seventh over, three singles from it, and quietly, because we’re all still debating the Mathews dismissal, Sri Lanka are setting for an onslaught – but they really mustn’t lose another wicket.
31st over: Sri Lanka 169-5 ( Asalanka 52, De Silva 9) Two singles, then Asalanka – who is seeing and timing it gorgeously – steps down, then flicks a pull for four, raising his fifty in the process. He’s looked in flow from the moment he arrived at the crease, his hitting so clean. Drinks, and I daresay if I was Shakib, I’d be checking mine for goz and such.
“Players have numbers rather than names on their shirts/jerseys for several reasons,” says John Starbuck. “1) Some names are too vast to be squeezed into the space available; 2) Some names are duplicates of other players’ (especially considering the dynasties which do exist here and there); 3) It makes it easier to refer to them on scoresheets and some scoreboards, especially unfamiliar players; 4) Some people just prefer numbers to deal with, which is despicable.
However, I do wonder why, in the Test series, the player numbers are their own preference or a deliberate joke (like Root 66), yet there is a standard way of numbering them i.e. their rank in order of all Test players for their country, which tends to appear on caps or as a shirt ‘badge’. Why this isn’t the best option I do not know, though I suppose it’s apposite if playing with non-Test members in other competitions.”
I guess because the numbers are too high, on which point is it just me who calls Jimmy Anderson Taryag, the Hebrew way of expressing 613 – his number, and also the number of commandments in the Bible.
30th over: Sri Lanka 162-5 ( Asalanka 46, De Silva 8) We learn that the MCC laws allow three minutes but the playing conditions stipulate two; that was the reason for the delay in Mathews’ dismissal. De Silva runs four to deep third, the only runs from the over, and this partnership is away.
“Shaqib obviously didn’t read your preamble to the game,” returns Andrew Cosgrove. “‘and, if nothing else, today is a chance to enjoy while we still can the terrific Angelo Mathews’.”
On the contrary, he’s done it to spite me.
29th over: Sri Lanka 158-5 ( Asalanka 46, De Silva 4) Had Mathews faced one ball without a helmet, or borrowed Asalanka’s, could he have then waited as long as it took to get another? We see the footage again and it seems the strap broke, which doesn’t seem a good reason for a wicket; I know Shakib’s side have to bowl their overs within the time, I’m enjoying the rancour and the laws are the laws, I’m a little surprised he wasn’t allowed to sort the issue because who wants the aggravation of winning like that? Asalanka drills two to cover then coaxes four down the ground, and he is now the key man.
NOT OUT!
The ball hit Asalanka on the glove. In the middle, stares are exchanged.
REVIEW!
That came quickly. Was there bat involved?
WICKET! Asalanka lbw b Miraz 39 (Sri Lanka 151-%)
When Asalanka sweeps and misses, Miraz hits his pad, and he’s got to go!
28th over: Sri Lanka 149-5 ( Asalanka 38, De Silva 3) Two singles from Miraz’s first three balls…
27th over: Sri Lanka 149-5 ( Asalanka 38, De Silva 3) Three singles off this latest Shoriful over, but seriously, Angelo Mathews, timed out! I remember going to see Lancashire at Lord’s in 1991 and when they were 4-4, someone in the crowd shouted “timed out” after Mike Watkinson was a little slow coming in. I laughed, but never thought I’d actually see it happen; this game! Asalanka spanks another splendid six over long off, then three singles follow, and we hear that Mathews is indeed the first player to be timed out in men’s international cricket.
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26th over: Sri Lanka 137-5 ( Asalanka 29, De Silva 1) Kusal is on the rope investigating, but the call’s been made and this is Sri Lanka’s last recognised batting partnership. I fear another spirit of cricket handwringing is upon us, and I understand it: does Shakib really want to win like this, via wardrobe malfunction? I guess he does, and though we’ll be told this is bad for the game, the intrigue and controversy will do it no harm whatsoever, in mine.
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WICKET! Mathews timed out 0 (Sri Lanka 135-5)
This is not good for the game! This is so good for the game! Mathews is not ready to face a ball within two minutes of coming out because his helmet’s strap is jiggered, so Shakib appeals and that’s that! I’m a little surprised he wasn’t more understanding, but elite sport is elite sport; fail to prepare, prepare to fail, and out of nowhere, Sri Lanka are in big trouble! Controversy! History!
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25th over: Sri Lanka 135-4 ( Asalanka 27, Mathews 0) This is a crucial partnership, Asalanka in and Mathews the man for the big occasion. I can’t believe how readily Samarawickrama just gave his wicket away – he’ll be angrier than Jim McDonald with a hangover, so he will – but before the game can continue, there’s a delay as Mathews appears to have brought out the wrong helmet. I’m not certain what’s going on here, perhaps a problem with its strap, no replacement arrives within the allotted two minutes, and Bangladesh appeal for timed out! I’ve never in my 40+ years watching this crazy sport seen anything like this!
WICKET! Samarawickrama c Mahmudullah b Shakib 41 (Sri Lanka 135-4)
Wickets at regular intervals! This time, Samarawickrama look high to midwicket but instead picks out deep square, through the shot early as the bowler gives him no pace with which to play, and after building the platform, he’s got to jump off it!
25th over: Sri Lanka 135-3 ( Samarawickrama 41, Asalanka 27) Samarawickrama’s seen enough, down on one knee to flick Shakib over short fine leg for four
24th over: Sri Lanka 131-3 ( Samarawickrama 37, Asalanka 27) Shakib brings back Shoriful in the search for a wicket. Samarawickrama flicking to deep square for one. Two further singles follow, and we are well and truly ensconced in the Middle OversTM.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 128-3 ( Samarawickrama 35, Asalanka 26) Shakib’s into his fifth over now, and its first two deliveries are taken for singles, likewise his sixth, and this is building, the batters keeping thing moving ahead of a planned assault perhaps seven overs from now. Off topic, but is there a reason cricketers have numbers? Why would a name not suffice?
22nd over: Sri Lanka 125-3 ( Samarawickrama 33, Asalanka 25) Asalanka takes one to point, then Samarawickrama steps down and squirts out one fired wider, for four through point. That’s the fifty partnership, off 53 deliveries, and three singles augment it further.
And now Steve Smith has left the net, not looking very good, stood around the with his head bent down, then went and sat on a chair looking in quite a bit of discomfort, before lying down on the ground where you find him now with his eyes closed. Not great signs maybe #CWC23
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 6, 2023
21st over: Sri Lanka 117-3 ( Samarawickrama 27, Asalanka 23) Bangladesh could really do with breaking this partnership. but Shakib won’t mind being milked for four singles too much. The run rate is 5.57.
“A good example of ‘You think you know what a big hole looks like’ is Mount Vesuvius,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “And one of my friends (Ramki) posed this question to me once and maybe you are the best person to answer it. If way outside the stumps is called 4th or 5th stump in one direction (may be offside for an RH batsman), do we count the leg side as 0, -1, and so on........”
Ha, I guess we already have terms for that, such as “filth”, “dross” and “expletive”.
20th over: Sri Lanka 113-3 ( Samarawickrama 25, Asalanka 21) Samarawickrama takes one to deep square, then singles to midwicket and backward square complete the scoring for the over, five off it.
NOT OUT!
Too much spin! I thought it was going over, but actually it was turning past leg stump.
REVIEW!
I think this is bouncing over…
20th over: Sri Lanka 110-3 ( Samarawickrama 23, Asalanka 20) Samarawickrama sweeps Miraz to fine leg and they steal a second, Tanzid chasing and hurling in, but too slowly for Mushfiqur to gather and break the stumps before bat appeared in crease. What’s this though? Sadeera comes down, looks to turn around the corner, wears ball on pad, and there’s an appeal … rejected.
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19th over: Sri Lanka 108-3 ( Samarawickrama 21, Asalanka 20) A lad in the crowd caught that Asalanka six – excellent take, and he absolutely loves it. This latest Shakib over cedes three singles, and Sri Lanka are looking good.
18th over: Sri Lanka 105-3 ( Samarawickrama 19, Asalanka 19) Nice from Samarawickrama, waiting for Miraz to hit him inside-out over cover for four – a lovely way to raise his team’s ton – before sweeping fine for four more! A single follows and the partnership is 33 off 32. I very much like the look of that which I’m seeing.
Reporter: Virat Kohli has just scored his 49th ODI ton. Would you like to congratulate him?
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) November 5, 2023
Kusal Mendis: Why would I want to congratulate him
(Courtesy ICC)#CWC23 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/83mYiR1JqW
17th over: Sri Lanka 96-3 ( Samarawickrama 10, Asalanka 19) It feels a long time since Sri Lanka won the World Cup, doesn’t it? I guess that’s because it is, but what a side that was, Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharane opening, Aravainda at four, Murali and Vaas in the attack. And Kumar Dharmasena! Anyway, a one and a two, then Asalanka comes down to Shakib and strokes six over long off! He’s making it look very easy out there.
16th over: Sri Lanka 87-3 ( Samarawickrama 9, Asalanka 11) Miraz’s off-breaks into the attack and his first four deliveries yield three singles; tow further dots follow.
15th over: Sri Lanka 84-3 ( Samarawickrama 7, Asalanka 10) Asalanka hammers to deep point and they run one, then Samarawickrama does similarly. But have a look at this! Asalanka clears the front pad and picks up what he turns into a slot-ball, hoisting six over long on! The crowd, though, aren’t desperately keen to return the globule so there’s a minor delay, after which come a dot then drinks.
14th over: Sri Lanka 76-3 ( Samarawickrama 6, Asalanka 3) Shoriful returns, which makes sense; if he’s going to be expensive, the time to bowl him is now, with two new men at the crease. Samarawickrama takes one to point, then Asalanka pushes down the ground; they run three, Hridoy chasing, diving, and flicking away from the rope.
“How’s the smog?” wonders Andrew Cosgrove – it’s fine in north London, thanks. “I saw rumours a few days ago that this match was in danger of being called off because of the air quality, but I guess it would have to get to the point of players passing out for that to happen (there was also talk that a lot of the players in these two sides have asthma so haven’t been able to train the last couple of days).
I know exactly what you mean about the Taj Mahal. It’s a bit like Uluru, in that respect - you’ve seen so many photos of it, you know exactly what it looks like, but that still doesn’t prepare you for actually being there and seeing it close up.
My other top tip for Agra is Akhbar’s tomb. It’s almost (although not quite, obviously) as spectacular as the Taj, but at least when we were there there were only about twenty other people, which improved the experience considerably.”
The Grand Canyon, by far the best natural wonder I’ve seen, is the other thing I’ve seen that fits into this category. You think you know what a big hole looks like; you do not.
13th over: Sri Lanka 72-3 ( Samarawickrama 5, Asalanka 0) Tanzim is into this, producing a serious rock to beat Asalanka first up, a bit of movement off the pitch beating the outside edge.
WICKET! Nissanka b Tanzim 41 (Sri Lanka 72-3)
Huge breakthrough! Test-match bowling from Tanzim, length on fifth stump, and eventually Nissanka went at one he should’ve left, dragging on, and Bangladesh are on top now! What a World Cup debut from the bowler!
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13th over: Sri Lanka 72-2 ( Nissanka 41, Samarawickrama 5) Samarawickrama flips two to square leg, then takes one to cover.
12th over: Sri Lanka 69-2 ( Nissanka 41, Samarawickrama 2) Three more singles, but Bangladesh will be glad to have broken that partnership.
WICKET! Mendis c Shoriful c Shakib 19 (Bangladesh 66-2)
Mendis waits then tries to go at a slow one but doesn’t get enough of it, Shoriful running around the fence from long on and sliding under a decent catch. The Sri Lanka skipper never looked comfy at the crease, and now he’s back in the hutch.
12th over: Sri Lanka 66-1 ( Nissanka 40, Mendis 19) Shakib tosses the ball to himself and concedes singles off his first two deliveries.
11th over: Sri Lanka 64-1 ( Nissanka 39, Mendis 19) Mendis has seen enough, pulling Tanzim’s first ball from outside off over wide mid-on for six! A wide follows, then a decent channel-ball that beats the bat as the Sri Lanka captain prods forward; the bowler has some thoughts on the matter, sharing them with the batter, Marais Erasmus orders him to relax, and he sends down a fine delivery … that’s edged for four! A misfield then yields a single, then Mendis narrowly avoids playing on, and Tanzim is all over him!
“Just running in to the OBO before I head off to drive my friends to pick up a puppy,” advises Philip Wainwright. “‘I’m not sure Bangladesh have ever been this weel-sticked for quicks’,” he says, quoting my now-corrected typos back to myself. “Made me smile, this, as brought up fond memories of Allo Allo’s *superb* Officer Crabtree. I could losten to hum eel doy.”
A logend of my chuldhid.
10th over: Sri Lanka 52-1 ( Nissanka 39, Mendis 7) Mendis plays down square of the wicket, but a dive by the man at point limits him to one; Nissanka then looks to whip four through midwicket, squirting four through cover instead. That’s the end of the powerplay, and both sides will think they’re in an alright position.
“I have seen a lot of strong teams from the subcontinent relying either on batting (India, SL, Ban) or bowling (Pak) but never a team like the current Indian team,” returns Krishnamoorthy V. “It has seven batsmen, and six bowlers in a team of 11 with a WK thrown in. I still feel India will goof it up in the knockout matches a la 2019. In today’s match, I see a Bangladesh win. They would play like a relegated Burnley beating Spurs on matchday 38.”
I fancy Sri Lanka today because I don’t fancy Bangladesh to chase anything, and also think that when we say India’s attack is excellent, we really mean Jasprit Bumrah is wonderful.
9th over: Sri Lanka 47-1 ( Nissanka 35, Mendis 6) More singles, four of them, and Tanzim is bowling a decent line, just outside off. Allan Donald has a fair bit to work with really – I’m not sure Bangladesh have ever been this well-stocked for quicks.
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8th over: Sri Lanka 43-1 ( Nissanka 33, Mendis 4) Delhi, though, what a city. I can’t lie, my favourite part of India visited is the Himalayas, but I loved the buzz about the capital. Also, a word to the wise: I was extremely resistant to visiting the Taj Mahal, – though its presence in Sooty’s World Tour made it iconic in my childhood – on the basis schlepping to Agra was too much trouble given we knew what it looked like. And, er, I was wrong – time in its presence is a total privilege, see it if you can. Yes, that is the OBO with the news: the Taj Mahal is alright. Four singles and a wide off another well-directed Taskin over.
“England’s problem was not so much the attack,” writes John Starbuck, “which often held opponents to a reasonable score, but the dreadful batting collapses. We’ve seen that in other teams too (SA especially as so unexpected) but none so consistent.”
I know what you mean, but we shouldn’t forget how badly Woakes and Curran began the tournament. No side is coping well with scoreboard pressure.
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7th over: Sri Lanka 38-1 ( Nissanka 31, Mendis 2) Tanzim replaces Shoriful and after a single to Mendis, Nissanka edges on a decent bouncer, this time the dive of Mushfiqur defeated. The next ball is much fuller and it’s another decent one … and it’s another one which goes for four, Nissanka edging behind; he now has 31 off 22. This game!
6th over: Sri Lanka 29-1 ( Nissanka 23, Mendis 1) Taskin is bowling nicely and he opens this over with a nut, moving the ball away from Mendis and just past his outside edge. But then he breaks a run of 13 straight dots by turning into the on side, before another luscious straight drive from Nissanka turns a good over for Bangladesh into a decent one for Sri Lanka.
5th over: Sri Lanka 24-1 ( Nissanka 19, Mendis 0) Shoriful needs to support Taskin, but again he slants one short, wide and across Nissanka – the lefty angle isn’t helping him here – who gets on top of the bounce and wastes through cover for four. A two follows, and he’s seeing it nicely.
“The way India is performing in this WC is bordering on illegal,” says Krishnamoorthy V. I am reminded of Asterix and Obelix wading through the Roman garrisons, leaving them hanging from tree tops and lying scattered on the floor. It is almost scary. The famous ‘law of averages’ applies only to an average team I guess.”
It’s the attack, isn’t it? We’ve seen lots of fine batting sides, but it’s relatively rare we come across bowlers as good. It’s also relatively rare the best side in the groups is the side dancing about with a pot at the end of the competition, but it’ll take Germany 1954 behaviour to stop these.
4th over: Sri Lanka 18-1 ( Nissanka 13, Mendis 0) You can see this is a track on which you’d like to bat. It doesn’t just come on, it sits up, and if Mendis, who’s been in poor form since assuming the captaincy, will know that if he gets in, he can make a statement. So he plays out a maiden, wearing Taskin’s fifth delivery on the pad – it jags back in nicely – and in comms, they want a second slip in – which makes sense, as the last ball, whizzes through the corridor, Mendis keeping away from it.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 18-1 ( Nissanka 13, Mendis 0) Lovely from Nissanka, riding the bounce outside off by getting on tippy-toes to ease four through point … then presenting the full face fo fo mo. Two absolutely beautiful shots those, though Shoriful was perhaps a little full … and another wide one is shoved through extra to the fence! Twelve off the over!
Email! “I’m here because I have a soft spot for SL,” says Ido Admon. “Gotta admit that even though I had South Africa as pre-tournament favourites, I was quite pleased for yesterday’s result – means those recent humiliations by India are not Lanka-specific!”
India ust look miles better than everyone, don’t they? Imagine the teeth-gnashing if they don’t win it, it’d make Italy losing to Argentina at the 1990 World Cup look like jelly and ice cream.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 6-1 ( Nissanka 1, Mendis 0) I think Shakib took out a slip before the wicket in order to have a square leg, and Shoriful perhaps threw it wide because Perera was clearly going after everything. The ball was full, inciting the drive, and the bounce we mentioned earlier meant the shot was a bit uppish. Nissanka gets off the mark with a flay to third, the only run from this first Taskin over.
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WICKET! Perera c Mushfiqur b Shoriful 4 (Sri Lanka 5-1)
Perera slashes at one outside off and the ball flies towards Shoriful’s face at first. Then, out of nowhere, Mushfiqur comes flying in front to take a wondrous one-handed grab!
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1st over: Sri Lanka 5-0 ( Nissanka 0, Perera 4) There’s a bit of bounce in the track and the first ball flicks off Nissanka’s thigh pad and they sneak a leg bye. This brings Perea onto strike and he shows his intention immediately, hammering a short, wide one into the pitch; he didn’t quite time that, because it was there to be clobbered. No matter, another one into the same area and he laces four through cover.
Shoriful Islam has the ball…
Righto, off we go, and play.
I daresay batting first isn’t bad for Sri Lanka, because any kind of scoreboard pressure will be a problem for Bangladesh. I’d not trust either of these to chase anything.
Anthem time. I do like Sri Lanka’s, it’s so nicely jaunty.
Here come the umpires … and the teams.
Talking of Manjrekar…
Chris Silverwood, Sri Lanka coach, says there’s been some good bits and bad bits, noting that though they got clattered by India, that’s the best white-ball attack we’ve seen in a bit. He’s had to build his players back up after their shellacking but they’re a developing team and have to bring confidence and spirit to the game, believing in themselves and each other. A win today would put the Lankans in a nice spot for the Champions Trophy, so he’s hoping for that.
Confession corner: my 10-year-old is 10 today, and has been bought a pair of totally plain Air Force 1s. Totally plain! I know! I’m not a monster, I promise. Her favourite colour is purple
Sanjay Manjrekar delivers the pitch report in a fedora, like it’s perfectly normal behaviour. Perhaps it’s contagious, because Bumble recently started dressing like an undercover detective. Anyroad up, this is the second-most prolific track in the tournament and boundaries are pretty short, so there are scoring opportunities out there.
Teams!
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Kasun Rajitha, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Dilshan Madushanka.
Bangladesh: 1 Litton Das, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Towhid Hridoy, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanzid Hasan, 11 Shoriful Islam.
Kusal Mendis would’ve fielded too, but is now targeting 300+. Sri Lanka make two changes, Dhananjaya and Kusal Perera replacing Karunaratne and Hemantha.
Bangladesh win the toss and will field!
Shakib thinks it’s a good wicket but it’ll be hard to bowl at night with the dew. His team haven’t met expectations, but this is another game in which they can fulfil their potential. Mustafizur is injured, Tanzid Tamim comes in.
Both of these sides have struggled with their batting, so might fancy this track. The ball should come on, question is whether there’s anyone in either lineup with the confidence to take advantage.
I’m being unfair. If you’d paid in and got to see Virat scoring a home World Cup birthday ton, you’d’ve took it. But a close match would be nice.
Another banga:
I said earlier this is gratuitous cricket and it is, but the top eight here qualify for the Champions Trophy; currently Sri Lanka are seventh and Bangladesh ninth.
Preamble
Greetings all! We’re at that point aren’t we?
Bangladesh are already out of the competition – even England beat them! – which Sri Lanka aren’t far off, needing to win here then against New Zealand on Thursday, while also hoping Afghanistan lose to Australia and South Africa and Pakistan lose to England. Don’t laugh.
As such, this feels like an exercise in gratuitous cricket – for most of us, during the working day too – and there’s not much this world has to offer which is better than that, so let’s dive in.
This tournament being this tournament, both sides have been badly beaten-up in the games they’ve not won. But both also have plenty of players good enough to grace any match and, if nothing else, today is a chance to enjoy while we still can the terrific Angelo Mathews, Mahmudullah, Mushifiqur, and Shakib al Hasanm– all of whom could be playing in their final World Cup.
Play: 2pm local, 8.30 am GMT
