When and Where to Watch Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, and Pitch Report for 1st Test

Even as all the focus is on the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will take the field in the whites in the suburb of Kandy city, in Pallekele. The first Test of the two-match series between these two teams is set to begin on Wednesday. It is also a part of the World Test Championship cycle, however, both sides have been ruled out of the finals race with India and New Zealand sealing their position for the title clash in June.

Having said that, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have had tough times across formats this year and there shouldn’t be less motivation to do well for them even if it means that not many will have their eyes on this series. The visitors, especially, are having torrid times in Tests having lost to West Indies at home. To make things worse, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are featuring in the IPL and have given this contest a miss.

Bangladesh have also picked as many as seven pacers in their squad for this tour and are looking to build an attack for the future. All of them featured in the two-day intra-squad game ahead of the series opener and only Abu Jayed managed to pick up a wicket. Though spinners dominate in Sri Lanka more often, the pacers will have to make things happen early on to come into the game and Bangladesh desperately need theirs to do well on this tour.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are coming off a decent Test tour to West Indies where they drew both the matches. The way Suranga Lakmal bowled was a huge positive for them as the veteran pacer was coming back from injury. Pathum Nissanka is another exciting prospect for the hosts while Angelo Mathews is also available which makes them look a lot stronger compared to Bangladesh.

Dimuth Karunaratne has enough resources with him and Sri Lanka will only need to execute their plans properly to make sure they dominate the opposition. But they also can’t take Bangladesh lightly who have beaten them at home convincingly before.

Pitch and Conditions

You always bat first after winning the toss in Sri Lanka, let alone in Pallekele. However, there is something in the pitch for the pacers for the first hour. The surface is generally a batting beauty here for the first couple of days before the ball starts to turn from Day 3, mostly after lunch. Rain is in the forecast for the first two days at the venue before things improve.

Playing Combinations for SL vs BAN

Sri Lanka

Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Wanindu Hasaranga, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera/Vishwa Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya.

Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal, Shadman Islam, Najmul Shanto, Mominul Haque (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das (WK), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Nayeem Hasan/Taskin Ahmed.

SL vs BAN Head to Head

Played – 20 | Sri Lanka won – 16 | Bangladesh won – 1 | Draw – 3

SL vs BAN Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 10 AM local & IST

Live Streaming – Sony Ten Network