Match News and Current Form
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka currently has what he describes as “a good headache”, that being the difficulty to squeeze 13 or so excellent T20 cricketers into a single XI. That became all the more apparent on Thursday when fringe leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who generally misses out when Wanindu Hasaranga is in the side, stepped up to continue Bangladesh captain Litton Das’ horror run of form in international cricket.
His return of 1-25 wasn’t even the most miserly of his team thanks to an excellent all-round effort from a bowling unit where everyone went for fewer than 40 runs including leading wicket-taker Maheesh Theekshana (2-37). That along with a swashbuckling opening partnership contributed to Sri Lanka’s recent record of four wins from their last five home T20Is, three of which were at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium which will host this second T20I.
Bangladesh’s longstanding issues with the shortest format of the international game were on show again, as they often are when presented with pitches that aren’t abhorrently low and/or slow. They are now going through their longest losing streak in nearly four years (L6) and have routinely either struggled to post a competitive total or couldn’t defend a good one.
It didn’t take them long to get swept away by Sri Lanka in Pallekele when they conceded a powerplay score of 83 defending just 154, so whilst the final score (Sri Lanka winning in 19.0 overs) suggests it was a fairly competitive affair, the reality is that the home side were in full control all the way through. Wicket-taking has been one of Bangladesh’s major issues in 2025 with just 30 in total across their six consecutive defeats, meaning that opponents have always been able to attack them with competent batters.
Head-to-Head History
Sri Lanka now leads the overall H2H ledger 12-6, though that includes winning the first four (2007-14), so things have more recently been more even. On Sri Lankan soil, the six games are shared 3-3.
Hot Stats and Streaks
• Five of the eight T20Is in Dambulla were won batting first, with the lowest defended score being 108 and highest chase being 180.
• Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka have just 111 and 110 runs each from six innings in Dambulla.
• Litton Das averages just 17.54 from 27 T20I innings since the start of 2024, scoring only one half-century.
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 0-1 wickets in 11 of his last 12 T20Is including ones in which he did not bowl.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Pathum Nissanka very quickly took the game away from Bangladesh with a 16-ball 42 and now returns to a venue where he has an impressive three half-centuries from his last six T20Is. The big hitting Parvez Hossain Emon is exactly what Bangladesh’s top order needs and they need more of his best. He got to 20 in only five of his 13 career T20Is so far but averages 52 when doing so.
Sri Lanka used four seamers and two spinners in Pallekele but conditions could necessitate a change in balance such as Dunith Wellalage ahead of Chamika Karunaratne, who bowled just one over. Bangladesh have to decide whether to keep Taskin Ahmed (0-43 from three overs) ahead of Mustafizur Rahman.
Betting Analysis
Sri Lanka look well ahead of their visitors in this format, so our attention instead turns to player markets. Invest in Pathum Nissanka to score 30+ runs considering his H2H and venue record.