Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first at the final of the tri-nation series against Bangladesh played in Dhaka. 

Winning is a habit and it keeps a team healthy, especially when there is a change in the hierarchy. Chandika Hathurusingha, the Sri Lankan coach, started his regime with defeats to Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. However, the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday (January 27) gives him and his side a chance to turn a new chapter in Sri Lankan cricket.

A team is always judged on how they respond when down and Sri Lanka have risen magnificently after losing the first two games, they beat Zimbabwe by five wickets and then thumped Bangladesh by ten wickets to book a place in the final. Both victories were convincing and suggested that Sri Lanka are slowly getting back to their old ways.

Chandimal has led the team well in the absence of Angelo Mathews, who was ruled out after the first game, and has been backed up by his players. The seniors like Upul Tharanga, Suranga Lakmal and Thisara Perera have put their hand up at crucial times. Perera, especially, has been their standout player - 11 wickets and 132 runs in the series. Sri Lanka will hope for more such performances from the burly all-rounder.

Bangladesh are virtually unbeatable at home since last couple of years. They have hunted down big teams in their backyard and were the first team to qualify for the final with three wins on the trot. The last game, however, was a reality check for them, bowled out for 83 and suffering their biggest defeat against Sri Lanka in terms of balls.

The batting is still dependent on the old trio of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Shakib’s promotion to number three has left them fragile in the middle order. The likes of Sabbir Rahman and Nasir Hossain are still finding it difficult to produce the numbers.

The one thing going for them is their bowling attack, which is led by the wily Mashrafe Mortaza. The inexperience of playing in big matches might go against them, but in home conditions they should back themselves.

- Crickbuzz