Sri Lanka made a valiant team effort to beat Bangladesh by two wickets with four balls to spare finally giving us a thriller worthy of the hype in this Asia Cup so far at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, yesterday.
With this thrilling victory, Sri Lanka cruised to the Super Four stage and they will meet Afganisthan again at the Sharjah International Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
A fine batting performance was displayed by Opener Kusal Mendis, who scored the most valuable runs to seal this important victory. Mendis scored 60 runs in just 37 runs 4 fours and 3 sixes but narrowly escaped an early LBW appeal from his counterparts, which was later ruled out as a ‘No ball’. Skipper Dasun Shanaka made 45 in 33 balls 3 fours and 2 sixes while Pathum Nissanka scored (20) and Chamika Karunaratne (16) but the key player who bagged Sri Lanka’s victory was debutant Asitha Fernando from St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya. He came into the attack and hit an unbeaten 10 with 2 fours in the last over. Kusal Mendis was named the Man of the Match.
Sri Lanka won the toss and invited Bangladesh to bat first. Their new opening pair Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Rahman gave a solid start; in the third over which was bowled by debutant, Asitha Fernando got the first breakthrough with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis securing the catch to dismiss Sabbir who was scoring 5 runs in 6 balls with a boundary. The 27-year-old Mehidy Hasan Miraz made a good comeback as an opener while he produced a superb innings to increase their run rate.
Miraz and skipper Shakib Ul Hasan added 39 runs for the second wicket and reached a very successful run rate after the first Power Play at which Bangladesh were 55/1 creating enough pressure on Sri Lanka bowlers.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz played an anchor role scoring 38 in 26 balls hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes. He was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga in the seventh over while Shakib was sent back to the pavilion after scoring 24 in 22 balls with three fours. Maheesh Theekshana removed the Bangladesh skipper in the 11th over, however, kept up a steady run rate at this stage as their total read 85 for 3 wickets.
Afif Hossain scored 39 in 22 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes while experienced batsman Mahmudullah produced a superb knock of 27 in 22 balls with a six and a four to improve their innings with more confidence while Mossadek Hossain played a brisk innings of 24 in just 9 balls with 4 fours as Bangladesh posted a challenging total 183 for 7 wickets. They achieved 98 runs from the last ten overs building up more pressure for the Sri Lanka team in this deciding game.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne took two wickets each while debutant Asitha Fernando gave away 51 runs in 4 overs. He has one maiden wicket under his belt.
Sri Lanka made only one change with Asitha Fernando replacing Matheesha Pathirana while the team stuck to the same batting order they had been following in the first game.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh made three changes with Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, and Ebodot Hossain replacing Mohammed Naim, Anamul Haq, and Mohammad Saifuddin.
The game between Pakistan and Hong Kong is scheduled to be played today at the Sharjah Stadium.
Chief scores:
Bangladesh: 183 for 7 wickets in 20 overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38, Shakib Al Hasan 24, Afif Hossain 39, Mahmudullah 27, Mossadek Hossain 24, Taskin Ahamed 11*, Dilshan Madushanka 1/26, Maheesh Theekshana 1/23, Asitha Fernando 1/51, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/41, Chamika Karunaratne 2/32)
Sri Lanka: 184 for 8 wickets in 19.2 overs (Pathum Nissanka 20, Kusal Mendis 60, Dasun Shanaka 45, Taskin Ahamed 2/24, Ebodot Hossain 3/51)
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