Preview of Sri Lanka v Bangladesh and Afghanistan v Scotland in the World Cup

Sri Lanka’s clash with Afghanistan in Melbourne tonight could be pivotal for both team’s chances of reaching the knock-out stages.

Bangladesh go into what is their first ever match at the MCG unbeaten, having comfortably beaten Afghanistan and then picked up a point when their match with Australia was washed out.

Victory over Sri Lanka would mean they would need just one more win from their remaining Pool A games with New Zealand, England and Scotland to reach the quarter-finals.

The Sri Lankans have looked far from their best so far. They were hammered by New Zealand in their first match and then pushed all the way by Afghanistan in their second, needing to be bailed out by skipper Mahela Jayawardena’s nerveless century.

They will hope a change of country will help. They have struggled in the chilly, swinging, seaming conditions in New Zealand but they should find the warmer climes of Australia – and what looks to be a batting paradise at the MCG – more to their liking.

We have defeated Sri Lanka in recent times and we can do so again if we play to our potential.

They need their bowlers to start firing, in particular star paceman Lasith Malinga, who has conceded 125 runs in two matches so far.

History is very much against Bangladesh. In 37 ODIs with Sri Lanka, they have won just five times.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza is in bullish mood. “We lost to Afghanistan in the Asia Cup last year and many people thought they will win again – but look what happened. We won easily and the same can happen again,” he said.

“We have defeated Sri Lanka in recent times and we can do so again if we play to our potential.”

Bangladesh’s batting coach is former Sri Lanka Test batsman Chandika Hathurusinghe, and he has given them a valuable insight into tonight’s opponents.

“He has been a great help and made plans for us – it is now to execute those plans well,” Mortaza added.

His Sri Lankan counterpart Angelo Mathews admits his team need to step it up – and quickly.

“This will be a pressure match for all of us,” he said. “It will certainly be a tough game. Bangladesh have a good set of players and we have to take all their batsmen and bowlers seriously.”

Before the crunch Pool A game, Scotland take on Afghanistan in a battle of the Pool B minnows.

They have met eight times in ODIs, with the Afghans winning five of them, and there is already a strong rivalry between the two teams and a distinct edge to the matches.

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Most of those games have been played in the roasting hot UAE, where conditions favour Afghanistan. This will be played in chilly, windy Dunedin – a city with Scottish roots – where the ball will move around considerably more.

The Afghans suffered a big blow on the eve of the match with the news that all-rounder Mirwais Ashraf - who took 2-29 from eight overs against Sri Lanka - has been ruled out of the tournament. 

The Afghans nevertheless go into the match confident, following their superb performance against Sri Lanka.

Batsman Javed Ahmadi said: “We lost that game, but we learned a lot of things. The last six months, that is what we were practicing for, playing against a full member (Sri Lanka). So hopefully we will be ready for Scotland.”

Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen expects a fiery match as both teams battle for a maiden World Cup victory.

“Generally a Scotland v Afghanistan game is quite feisty and there’s quite a bit of passion on display, quite a bit of aggression,” he said. “A win would mean a lot to us as a team, to the squad, to the staff and to everyone back home.”

Watch Afghanistan v Scotland from 9pm, and Sri Lanka v Bangladesh from 3.30am tonight - initially on the red button - on Sky World Cup.