England all-rounder Ravi Bopara says Thursday’s World Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka is a must-win if they are to progress from the Super 10 stage.
England lost narrowly to New Zealand in their opening match on Saturday.
They now need a victory against the two-time runners-up to revive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. “I think we will have to win our remaining three games so we have to get on with it. There is no option,” Bopara told BBC Sport.
“Winning against Sri Lanka would be a big thing for us, a big confidence boost, and that’s how we’re looking at it. “It didn’t help losing to New Zealand, but we were unfortunate to lose in the way we did. “But we have to put it away. We have a big game coming up.”
England were beaten under the Duckworth-Lewis method as their match in Chittagong was abandoned because of a thunderstorm. Sri Lanka beat South Africa by five runs in their opening game, before demolishing the Netherlands by nine wickets in their next game, after the Dutch were bowled out for a record low score of 39.
And one of England’s main concerns in Chittagong will be how to deal with the threat of fast bowler Lasith Malinga. “Sri Lanka are a good side with a good record in T20 cricket, especially in global competition,” added Bopara, who made an unbeaten 24 in England’s 172-6 on Saturday.
“But we have prepared well and done all the Malinga practice you can do. Colly [Paul Collingwood] has been throwing to us with a very low arm to try to replicate [Malinga’s style]but the first ball against him is always tricky, no matter how many times you play him.
“My advice is keep your bat low. He is more effective when you try to smack him out of the park.
“We have also tried to bowl with and bat against wet balls because there is a real difference when you have the dew to consider.”
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