Better batting the key

Even in the shortest version of the game there are small battles within the big battle. It will be interesting to see how a misfiring Sri Lankan line-up batting handles Bangladesh's pace bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman in their first real test in the Asia Cup T20 encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur this evening. The 20-year old left-arm paceman Mustafizur might not have risen to expectations against India in the opening match after all the pre-tournament hype, but he got his rhythm back against UAE with his venomous cutters.

The young paceman from Satkhira has already attracted the spotlight in world cricket during his brief career, but the Lankans are yet to face his cutters and slower balls. However it's not all about Mustafizur; the Lankans will face a tough challenge against the whole Bangladesh bowling unit in the crucial game for both teams who have each won one match against the UAE. Taskin Ahmed has so far showed great intensity, generating good pace, and he will just need some luck. Al-Amin Hossain has proven that he has got the ability to provide early breakthroughs and captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza also provided evidence that his experience can be handy and so far support from the slow bowlers has also been satisfactory.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's batting continues to stumble. Their T20 slide had begun in July last year against Pakistan at home, followed by their poor showing against New Zealand and India this year. So the Tigers can cash in on the Lankans' fragile batting. On the other hand, Sri Lanka also have a very good bowling attack led by captain Lasith Malinga and the Bangladesh batting faltered in the first two games despite all their preparations. In this context, it will be a battle of two wobbling batting sides and it may well come down to who can bat better, or bat less poorly.

Bangladesh won their second match against UAE by a convincing margin but it was courtesy of their bowling. Bangladesh need to show a much bigger improvement in their batting if they want to neutralise a versatile Sri Lankan bowling attack.

Mohammad Mithun might have scored some runs in the last match but apart from some sporadic good shots the right-hander was not impressive at all; Soumya Sarkar has frustratingly been searching for a way to be successful and contributions from the man in form, Sabbir Rahman, will not be enough if not backed by firepower from the experienced brigade.

But most importantly, the Bangladesh think-tank must look at their batting plan and think whether they are putting the available resources to best possible use.

Sri Lanka so far have a hundred per cent winning record against Bangladesh as they have won all four previous T20Is. The Tigers however can prove that they are not the same team that they were in February 2014 when these sides last met in this format, only if their batting clicks.