All-round cricket with emphasis on measured batting in the most leveraging game dictating mode will be the key to success in the decisive third and final ODI which will be fought out between hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh today in the day-night showdown on a testing surface in the hill country climes of the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
Both sides have everything to gain in a showdown to pocketing the series from a 1-all deadlock in either perfecting their weak areas that have proved costly particularly by let downs in the batting. Bangladesh top batters were found wanting in the 77-run loss in the opener while similarly the Lankan top order was a let down in chasing 249 last time out. By and large, the bat will be the driving bottom line to a champagne finish.
The showdown thus assumes an intensifying air with Sri Lanka, led by explosive batsman Charith Asalanka, on a red hot trail to reaching the top three in ICC Team Rankings from current fourth place. In such a perspective which is the Lankan skipper’a foremost priority, the name of the game for the former world champions will be nothing short of victory.
Similarly, for Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz and his men victory will be paramount in search of a history making maiden series win against Sri Lanka. Their trump card by a long shot is Tanvir Islam who would find the Pallekelle track which progressively takes turn to his liking.
The Lankan frontline batting will have to shed its half hearted bits and pieces let down display in the lost second ODI and bat as a team if they are to live up to their patriotic slogan, ‘One Team, One Nation’ to coming out winners.
One false would be costly.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will look to its top guns to fire, mainly star batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto to shedding two hashed up performances.
By and large, the game will be huge to both sides for different reasons.