Sri Lanka face do-or-die situation against confident Zimbabwe

A confident Zimbabwe will face under-pressure Sri Lanka for the second time in the tri-nation ODI series at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Sunday. Host Bangladesh have won both their matches convincingly, against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka with bonus point and already qualified for the grand finale. Zimbabwe have a chance to qualify as well as they beat Sri Lanka in the first match while the Lankans have no other option but to win their remaining games in order to make it to the final. Zimbabwe batsman Craig Ervine is confident they can beat Sri Lanka as they won a series against them recently. “I think we are just trying to take it game by game. Every game is different. I don’t think the plans will be exactly the same as the one against Sri Lanka previously. We have won a series against them and won the first game here too. Our XI will have to turn up for a good game,” Ervine said to the media during training in Mirpur Saturday. Ervine admitted they have to play really great cricket to beat the wounded Sri Lankan side. “I am pretty sure they’ll be very keen to bounce back. They have to win the next two games in order to get to the final. We need one more win so we know they will come hard at us. We will have to go hard at them, even though we have beaten them once already. I don’t think our plans will change too much,” said Ervine.

Bangladesh confirms Rocket Tri-Nation ODI Series final by winning against Sri Lanka today. pic.twitter.com/xdM0Ame4gR

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) January 19, 2018

“I think a lot of it depends on the wicket. If it is a really good wicket, both seam and spin will have an even balance. But in recent times, we have been playing spin a bit better. Sri Lanka may think of adding an extra spinner instead of a seamer. We just have to turn up regardless of what team they pick. We just have to be on top of the game,” he added. Zimbabwe took part in training ahead of the crucial tie but Sri Lanka did not train Saturday. Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera believes they have the ability to bounce back. “The next two matches are must win. Our teammates are always telling each other not to put our head down. It can happen in cricket. I hope we come back strongly in next two matches,” Perera informed during the post-match press conference after losing to Bangladesh. Sri Lanka ODI captain Angelo Mathews is still injured and might not play in the next match. Dinesh Chandimal will lead the side in Mathews’ absence. The match starts at 12pm local time.

Got it! @Craig_Ervine77 vies for a catch as he and his @ZimCricketv team-mates prepared to face @OfficialSLC again on Sunday in the ODI tri-series in Dhaka #TriSeries @BCBtigers pic.twitter.com/fcIiRKoOMw

— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) January 20, 2018

Head to headODIs played - 56Sri Lanka wins - 43Zimbabwe wins - 11No results - 2Win % - Sri Lanka (79.62), Zimbabwe (20.37)Most runs - Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka, 906), Andy Flower (Zimbabwe, 919)Highest score - Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka, 144), Alistair Campbell (131*)Most wickets - Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka, 59), Heath Streak (Zimbabwe, 28)Best bowling - Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka, 8/19), Paul Strang (Zimbabwe, 4/32)