Sri Lanka shattered Bangladesh’s hope to put them in the Asia Cup Super Fours, pulling off a two-wicket win in a thrilling contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The game went down the wire before the Sri Lanka’s lower order batters confirmed the victory with three balls to spare as the original hosts of the tournament reached the victory target of 184 with the loss of eight wickets after Bangladesh posted 183-7, their highest total in the UAE.
Sri Lanka which were forced to shift the venue to UAE due to the political turmoil back at their home, now joined Afghanistan to move to the Super Fours.
A no ball of Mahedi Hasan however confirmed Sri Lanka’s victory as they needed eight runs from the last over. Bangladesh indeed delivered plenty of no balls in that frustrating night to dig their own graveyards in a match where they were clear favourite to win the game.
But the last two overs damaged the hopes. Sri Lanka’s ninth wicket pair took the full advantages of Ebadot’s ‘no ball’ to take 17 runs in the penultimate over and them kept the nerve to seal the victory in the last over.
After being asked to bat first, Bangladesh indeed rode on combined performance of the batters in the high stake game, where no one could reach half-century. The highest 39 runs came from the willow of Afif Hossain, who hammered four fours and two sixes in his 22-bal-knock.
Bangladesh came up with three changes after conceding a seven-wicket defeat to Afghanistan and it paid off at least in their batting. The Tigers fielded a makeshift opening pair in Sabbir Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, dropping Anamul Haque Bijoy and Naim Sheikh.
The move indeed worked well with Mehidy striking a fluent 26 ball-38 with two fours and as many sixes. Sabbir, playing his first T20 game after three years made just 5.
Ebadot Hossain who claimed 3-51 was the other change of Bangladesh, replacing Mohammad Saifuddin.
Shakib joined Miraz after the departure of Sabbir and the duo helped Bangladesh amassed 56 runs in the first six overs. This was the first 50 plus runs for Bangladesh in the first powerplay after 13 matches.
Miraz got out after the first powerplay, trying to pace his innings further. Mushfiqur Rahim came in and yet again failed to deliver as he was dismissed for 4.
Shakib also followed the suit, scoring 22 ball-24 but during this knock, he became the only second player in the world after Dwayne Bravo to score 6000 runs and take 400 wickets in T20s.
Shakib’s dismissal left Bangladesh to 87-4 in 11th over and there was fear whether Bangladesh could go past 150. But Afif Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad shared 57-run for the fifth wicket to quell the fear. The dismissal of Afif broke the partnership.
Mahmudullah made 22 ball-27 before being out and then Mosaddek played a quick knock of 9 ball-24 not out to help Bangladesh propel past 180 runs mark.
Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva and Chamika Karunaratne claimed two wickets apiece for the Lankans.
Kusal Mendis was the highest scorer for Sri Lanka with 37 ball-60 which included four fours and three sixes. He indeed survived twice to make the task tougher for Bangladesh. Skipper Dasun Shanaka struck 45 off 33 and shared 54-run with Mendis for the fifth wicket stand which set the tune.
Mendis and Pathum Nissanka started well, putting pressure on Bangladesh. Ebadot however helped the side hit back to the game, with double strike on his just first over of the T20 International cricket. He took the wicket of Nissanka (20) and Charith Asalanka (1) to make Bangladesh heavily favourite.
In his second over, he got the better of Danushka Gunathilaka (11) to set a platform for the side to win the game.
Taskin who took two tough catches in the memorable night then gave Bangladesh another delight, dismissing Bhanuka Rajapaksa (2).
But captain Shanaka and Mendis strung a 54-run partnership to further put Sri Lanka into driving seat. Mustafizur broke the partnership, removing Mendis and then Taskin took out Hasaranga de Silva (2) to give Bangladesh a ray of hope.
However Bangladesh’s victory looked confirmed when Mahedi Hasan dismissed Shanaka in the 18th over, after he struck 45 off 33 with three fours and two sixes. But Chamika Karunaratn with 10 ball-16 and debutant Asitha Fernando with 3 ball-10 not out gave Sri Lanka the unlikely victory.
Apart from Ebadot’s three-wicket haul, Taskin Ahmed took 2-24 while Mahedi and Mustafizue picked up one wicket apiece.
Source: BSS