The cricketing world has finally seen a batsman who has been timed out. The rivalry between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka notched up another level as Angelo Mathews was adjudged to be out when he couldn’t get himself ready before the given 2-minute mark. Aside from the controversy Bangladesh played fine cricket and picked up their 2nd victory of the World Cup, their first after the opening game against Afghanistan.
Team Lineups
Sri Lanka made two changes to the playing eleven that got comprehensively beaten against South Africa. Kusal Perera was fit again after some time on the sidelines nursing an injury. Dimuth Karunaratne dropped to the bench to accommodate him. Dushan Hemantha was replaced by Dhananjaya de Silva.
Bangladesh made one change to the team that lost to South Africa. Young pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib was handed his World Cup debut. Mustafizur Rahman was rested for the game.
Sri Lanka
- Pathum Nissanka 2. Kusal Perera 3. Kusal Mendis (Cap.) (WK) 4. Sadeera Samarawickrama 5. Charith Asalanka 6. Angelo Mathews 7. Dhananjaya de Silva 8. Mahesh Theekshana 9. Dushmantha Chameera 10. Kasun Rajitha 11. Dilshan Madushanka
Bangladesh
- Tanzid Hasan 2. Liton Das 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto 4. Shakib Al Hasan (Cap.) 5. Mushfiqur Rahim (WK) 6. Mahmudullah 7. Towhid Hridoy 8. Mehidy Hasan 9. Tanzim Hasan Sakib 10. Taskin Ahmed 11. Shoriful Islam
Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has always favored the batsmen. The Bangladeshi skipper might have the idea of dew coming into play during the second innings which makes batting easier. The pitch would turn drier as time passes providing an ideal condition for the spin bowlers to get some turn. The previous 30 matches on the ground had an almost equal ratio: teams batting first won 15 matches and the one batting second won 14 times with one match yielding no result.
Fixture
The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh rivalry has seen some heated battles over the last few years. Sri Lanka has the upper hand in the battle with 43 wins against Bangladesh’s 9. Two matches did not deliver any results.
| Venue | The 38th game of the 2023 World Cup was played at the historic Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi |
| Date | The game started at 01:30 p.m. IST onwards on Monday, November 6. |
Captaincy & Tactics
Sri Lanka’s batting performance was their undoing on a batting-friendly pitch. After an early dismissal of Kusal Perera, caught brilliantly by Mushfiqur Rahim, Sri Lanka found some stability with a 61-run partnership between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Nissanka played aggressively, scoring 40 runs and relieving the pressure with frequent boundaries, while Mendis struggled to find his form.
Mendis took 14 balls to get off the mark and although he hit a boundary and a six in his 30-ball innings, he appeared out of touch compared to his earlier performances in the tournament. His eventual dismissal came from a lack of power in his attempted lofted shot down the ground.
Soon after, Nissanka also fell, chopping the ball onto his stumps off Tanzim’s bowling. However, a solid partnership between Asalanka and Samarawickrama provided hope for Sri Lanka. Their left-right combination made it challenging for the Bangladesh bowlers, and they scored runs without taking unnecessary risks.
Samarawickrama’s dismissal was unexpected, as he was looking composed until he flicked the ball aerially to deep square leg. This wicket set the stage for a turning point in the innings and the match itself, as Mathews walked in, unaware of the fate awaiting him.
Batting Analysis
This cricket match, known as the “Naagin Derby,” was dominated by a single incident. It marked a historic first as Angelo Mathews was dismissed in a rare way called “timed out,” which has never happened before in international cricket.
The incident occurred during Sri Lanka’s batting innings. Mathews had a problem with his helmet strap, causing a delay of over two minutes before the next batsman could take their turn. Shakib Al Hasan, an opposing player, appealed to the umpire which led to Mathews being declared out. Mathews, who was drafted before the third game of the tournament, was not happy with the proceedings.
According to the tournament’s rules, a new batsman must be ready to receive the ball within two minutes after a wicket falls or a retired batsman leaves the field unless a timeout has been called. If this requirement isn’t met, the incoming batsman will be declared out and timed out.
Mathews was frustrated by the decision, and it affected Sri Lanka’s performance for the rest of the game. However, it’s important to acknowledge Bangladesh’s outstanding all-round effort, particularly from Shakib.
On a fantastic batting pitch, Bangladesh chose to send Sri Lanka in to bat and restricted them to a below-average score of 279. The young and fast-paced Tanzim Hasan conceded 80 runs in his ten overs but took three crucial wickets, including those of Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka.
The rest of the bowlers ensured Sri Lanka couldn’t score freely and maintained control over the game, thanks to some loose batting from the Sri Lankan team.
During Bangladesh’s chase, an impressive partnership of 169 runs between Shakib and Najmul Hossain Shanto played a key role. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka struggled with the dew, making it difficult for their bowlers to maintain control. Additionally, some dropped catches added to their challenges.
Although Sri Lanka started taking wickets towards the end, Bangladesh’s deep batting lineup and composed performance helped them secure a hard-fought victory, even with a requirement of only 70 runs remaining.
Bowling Analysis
In a seemingly unremarkable World Cup match at the Arun Jaitley stadium, Shakib Al Hasan took center stage, igniting a thrilling contest against bitter rivals Sri Lanka. His audacious appeal for a ‘timed out’ dismissal against Angelo Mathews in the 25th over showcased his determination to lead Bangladesh to victory.
Shakib emerged triumphant in a tense and ill-tempered encounter, orchestrating a remarkable chase alongside Nazmul Hossain Shanto. Their impressive partnership, with Shakib’s fluent 65-ball 82 and Shanto’s composed 101-ball 90, propelled Bangladesh to a commanding three-wicket win with nine overs to spare in pursuit of 280.
Although Mathews retaliated by dismissing Shakib with a slower ball in the 32nd over, the veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder sarcastically gestured at his wrist, suggesting Shakib’s time was up. However, it is Sri Lanka who finds themselves running out of time to secure a spot in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
This match was crucial for both teams, as they sought to prove their relevance on the world cricket stage. With both sides cornered in the World Cup and ego threatening to take over, Shakib’s refusal to withdraw his appeal against Mathews demonstrated his commitment as the captain of a team plagued by controversy leading up to the tournament. He challenged himself and rallied his teammates.
Sri Lanka did find inspiration from the incident, as Charith Asalanka displayed a measured knock of 108 off 105 balls from a tricky position at 132/5, propelling Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 279. However, their fightback came too late in the match. Despite the pitch being renowned for producing high-scoring contests in the World Cup, the excessive dew nullified Sri Lanka’s spinners. Once Shakib and Shanto settled into their partnership for the third wicket, Sri Lanka’s best hope was a Bangladesh collapse.
During the chase, Bangladesh flirted with implosion in the latter stages of the innings. However, Shakib’s dominance with the bat had already put the game beyond Sri Lanka’s reach. With confident strides towards the seamers, Shakib dictated the game, smashing twelve boundaries and two sixes. Sri Lanka would rue a dropped chance when he was only on seven.
Shakib has been Bangladesh’s pillar of strength in times of crisis, earning the status of their biggest cricketing brand. Amidst the turmoil that has engulfed Bangladesh cricket in the past five months, the board placed their hopes in Shakib. After six consecutive losses and the ignominy of being the first team eliminated from the race for a semi-final spot, the pressure on Shakib was immense. However, he responded magnificently, first with the ball by claiming figures of 2/57 and deftly rotating his bowlers to contain Sri Lanka. He then displayed his batting prowess by stepping up the order and accepting the responsibility of guiding Bangladesh home. Mahmudullah couldn’t replicate his heroics shown against South Africa.
While Bangladesh may breathe a sigh of relief regarding their immediate future in international cricket, Shakib knows that this fightback arrived slightly too late for his team. Conversely, Sri Lanka’s cricketing identity hangs in the balance, as their struggles pose a serious threat.
Fielding Analysis
The fielding department of Bangladesh put on a show in this match. Veteran wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim rolled back the years by pulling off a stunning one-handed catch. He also ran Madushanka out by an underarm throw. However, the dismissal of Dhananjaya de Silva was rather fortunate as Mushfiq was not able to gather the ball on the first attempt. Liton Das caught Kasun Rajitha finely after covering a lot of ground in the cover region. Mahmudullah also completed a fine grab to dismiss Sarawickrama.
Sri Lanka dropped both Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan during the early part of their innings. Asalanka finally made amends for his earlier mistake with a magnificent, but it was too late already. Bangladesh was already on its way to their 2nd victory of the World Cup.
Key Performances
Charith Asalanka got the second century of his ODI career with a wonderful innings full of proper cricketing shots. Sadeera Samarawickrama looked good with the bat during his 42-ball stay at the crease that yielded 41 runs. Pathum Nissanka also added 42 runs in his 8 boundary innings. Tanzim Hasan Sakib had a debut of mixed emotions, he claimed three wickets but gave away 80 runs. Shoriful Islam bowled brilliantly at the start and ended with 51 for 2. Shakib Al Hasan also claimed two scalps to restrict Sri Lanka within 300.
Najumul Hossain Shanto showed why he is rated so highly back in his homeland with a magnificent innings of 90 runs. Shakib Al Hasan launched an audacious counterattack to knock Sri Lanka out of the game with a stroke-filled innings of 82 runs from 65 balls. Liton Das had a decent start once again, but couldn’t get past 23 with the bat. Dilshan Madushanka got his place back at the top of the wickets chart with another impressive bowling display of 3 for 69. Angelo Mathews looked focused after his timed-out debacle in the first innings, he picked up 2 scalps for 35 runs. Mahesh Theekshana also claimed two wickets as Sri Lanka had charged a late shot to win the game.
Turning Point
Shakib Al Hasan was at the center of controversy once again as he appealed for the dismissal of Angelo Mathews in the first innings. But the all-rounder provided a match-winning performance against Sri Lanka. But he got a reprieve early on during his innings thanks to a misjudgment on the fielder’s part.
Shakib Al Hasan was batting at the score 9 at that point. Angelo Mathews came to bowl the 10th over of the innings. The third ball of the over was full and outside the off stump. He tried to steer towards the cover region, but couldn’t time it properly. The ball ballooned to the short cover region where Charith Asalanka was able to get his hands on it. But it slipped out of his hand despite a diving effort. Shakib went on to score 73 more runs to steer Bangladesh to victory.
Match Result
Bangladesh secured their 2nd victory of the tournament with a win over Sri Lanka by 3 wickets and 53 balls to spare.
Player of the Match
Shakib Al Hasan won the Best Player of the Match award for his wonderful match-winning performance that included 2 for 57 with the ball and a brilliant knock of 82 from 65 deliveries.
Brief Scorecard
| Sri Lanka Total: 279/10 (49.3 overs) | Bangladesh Total: 282/7 (41.1 overs) |
| Charith Asalanka 108 (105) | Najmul Hossain Shanto 90 (101) |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama 41 (42) | Shakib Al Hasan 82 (65) |
| Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/80 (10 overs) | Dilshan Madushanka 3/69 (10 overs) |
| Shoriful Islam 2/52 (9.3 overs) | Angelo Mathews 2/35 (7.1 overs) |
Match Highlights
Match Wrap-Up
Finally, Bangladeshi fans found something to cheer about in a disappointing World Cup campaign. They were the superior outfit throughout the day and finished the game in their typical uncertain fashion. Shakib Al Hasan showed once again what he is capable of with a top-class all-rounder display. Bangladesh will look to bow out with a note of positivity in their final game against Australia. Sri Lanka will face New Zealand on Thursday as the battle for the 2025 Champions Trophy comes down to the wire.
