Dew Factor Crushes Sri Lanka's Victory Hopes in Bangladesh ODI

The first ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Chattogram was shaping up to be a thrilling contest until the dew factor intervened, playing a pivotal role in the home team’s remarkable comeback victory. Sri Lanka, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, raced to 71 within the first 10 overs, courtesy of a blistering start from their openers. However, a middle-order collapse saw them settle for a modest total of 255, a score that seemed inadequate given their promising start.

Despite the underwhelming total, Sri Lanka’s bowling attack made early inroads, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 92/4. At this juncture, the visitors appeared firmly in control, with victory well within their grasp. However, the arrival of dew on the outfield proved to be a game-changer, as the Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to maintain their grip on the ball.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim capitalized on the slippery conditions, stitching together a match-winning partnership of 165 runs for the fifth wicket. Shanto played a remarkable innings, remaining unbeaten on 122, while Mushfiqur contributed a valuable 73 not out, guiding Bangladesh to a comprehensive victory.

After the match, Sri Lankan all-rounder Janith Liyanage admitted that the dew caught his team off-guard. “We never expected there to be so much dew,” he said, expressing surprise at the unexpected turn of events. “We were on top at that moment when it was 92 for 4. We thought we had a really good chance of winning the game. But when the dew came into play, it was really hard for the bowlers to grip the ball.”

Liyanage acknowledged the exceptional batting performances of Shanto and Mushfiqur, crediting the Bangladesh pair for their resilience and match-winning partnership. “Credit to the Bangladesh team the way they batted. Shanto played extremely well and, of course, Mushfiqur bhai also played really well,” he said.

Despite the disappointing result, Liyanage remained optimistic about Sri Lanka’s chances in the remaining matches of the series. “With the start we got, we could have got 300 runs today. We were a bit disappointed about that,” he reflected, hinting at the potential for improvement in their batting performances.

As the series progresses, both teams will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on the weather conditions, particularly the dew factor, which has proven to be a significant factor in determining the outcome of matches. The ability to adapt and strategize accordingly could ultimately decide the fate of this closely contested ODI series.