3rd T20I Today: Sri Lanka Under Pressure Against Bangladesh in ‘Final

Even a legend like Sanath Jayasuriya had to face the question: Is Sri Lanka under pressure ahead of the decisive third T20I? With the series tied at 1-1, the team that wins today’s match at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will clinch the series. Whether on home turf or away, the stakes are high in such a do-or-die encounter.

As the hosts, Sri Lanka naturally face heightened expectations. However, Bangladesh are not far behind in terms of pressure. After a defeat on the fourth morning of the second Test in Colombo, the joy of the drawn first Test in Galle has faded. The missed opportunity to win the ODI series in Pallekele, marred by poor batting, has left Bangladesh hungry. Today, they have another chance to secure a series victory in Colombo. Failure to capitalize could mean returning home with unfulfilled aspirations. Despite a draw in the Test series and a win in one ODI, not clinching a series would hardly be considered a success.

Sri Lanka’s coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, dismissed talks of pressure, stating, “We’ve won the Test and ODI series. We need to finish the T20I series with a win too. The players want to perform well, and we’re working hard for it.” Jayasuriya emphasized the need for strong batting, particularly from the top three, and expects his experienced bowling lineup to shine. During Sri Lanka’s practice session yesterday, which extended from afternoon to night, both batters and bowlers were seen fine-tuning their skills. Both teams had access to the middle wickets for practice the day before the match, with continuous batting and bowling drills on either side of the match wicket. For T20I practice, batters focused on big shots, with Jayasuriya observing closely, almost like a spectator, as players alternated between nets. Bangladesh’s practice earlier in the day was less intense but followed a similar pattern. The session was lighter, as is typical for the team the day before a match. Key players like Litton Das and Parvez Hossain practiced big shots, while Mehidy Hasan, who didn’t play in the first two T20Is, spent significant time on both batting and bowling. However, Shamim Hossain, who played a match-defining knock in Dambulla, was absent from practice due to feeling unwell, though team sources confirmed it was not serious. Shamim’s aggressive batting in Pallekele and Dambulla brought entertainment to the T20Is. His 27-ball 48, combined with Litton Das’s 50-ball 76, set up Bangladesh’s imposing total in Dambulla. The team hopes for a similar performance from Shamim today, and there’s even a possibility of him batting higher in the order if needed. After their win in the second T20I, Bangladesh are likely to retain their winning combination. However, senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin hinted at possible changes, saying, “No team wants to break a winning combination, but we have to consider the players’ fitness. Some are recovering from injuries, and we need to manage workloads, especially for pacers.” He specifically mentioned Taskin Ahmed, noting, “Taskin has returned from a major injury. If we overuse him and he gets injured again, he might be sidelined for a year. We have to manage everything carefully.” While Jayasuriya is confident of a series win, Bangladesh’s assistant coach is equally optimistic, stating, “The way we played the last match has given the boys great momentum and confidence. I hope we can finish well here and, Inshallah, put up a strong performance.” Bangladesh are hopeful that their efforts will bear fruit, ending the tour with the joy of a series victory.