Sri Lanka have been knocked out of the Asia Cup. But they can still spoil Bangladesh or India's chances of qualifying for the final by winning Tuesday's match against the host country.
A Sri Lanka win will end Bangladesh's Asia Cup, one the hosts spiced up through their thrilling chase against India that kept their qualification hopes alive and prevented Sunday's India-Pakistan encounter from becoming a mere dress rehearsal for the final, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Bangladesh fought hard against Pakistan, won memorably against India by embarrassing a weak bowling attack and can't be written off against a Sri Lanka team yet to recover from sizable defeats.
Bangladesh will go through if they win; even if they tie with India on points, they're through by virtue of having beaten them earlier.
In 29 tournaments of three teams or more that Bangladesh have participated in, they've only made it to the final once - the tri-series final at home where Sri Lanka took the title in a close finish.
A win tomorrow will mark their most impressive performance in a multi-team tournament, and what better place to deliver that than at home in front of a packed house, also the venue for the final.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka knocked India out of the CB series after beating Australia in the tournament's final league game. They can ensure India go through this time by winning against Bangladesh, or inflict a second-straight knock-out, undermine another sterling Virat Kohli ton and another run-chase of 320-plus, by losing.
For Sri Lanka, a team that beat South Africa at home twice in the ODI series in January and won against Australia four times in the CB series, failing to make it to the final of a tournament they've traditionally done well in represents a setback.
Sri Lanka will be desperate to salvage some pride, Bangladesh to display some consistency in winning against superior teams, not merely challenging them.
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