Tigers all out for 164 despite Shanto's 89

Najmul Hossain Shanto struck a brilliant 89 but other batters failed to give him adequate support as Bangladesh were bowled out for a meager 164 in 42.4 overs against Sri Lanka in their first match of the Asia Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Thursday.

The next best for Bangladesh was Towhid Hridoy's 20 while two other batters - opener Naim Sheikh (16) and Mushfiqur Rahim (13) could reach double digit figure.

Playing only his fifth game, Sri Lanka's young fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana wrecked havoc on Bangladesh batting line up, claiming his career-best 4-32.

Offspinner Maheesh Theekshana snapped up 2-19 while Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wallalage and captain Dasun Shanaka picked up one wicket apiece.

Theekshana drew the blood first, handing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim a duck on his debut ODI after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan opted to bat first.

Another opener Naim Sheikh hit three boundaries before Dhananjaya de Silva got rid of him. But the big blow came when Pathirana got into act with the wicket of Shakib who edged behind for 5.

With Bangladesh leaving at precarious 36-3 in 11th over, things looked ominous but Shanto and Hridoy looked steady to bail the side out of the danger. They combined for a 59-run for the fourth wicket, which was key in helping the side get past 150-run mark.

Shanto looked more compact and soon brought up his fourth half-century off 66 balls as he cut Shanaka fiercely through backward point for a boundary.

But Shanka in that over took the revenge, claiming the wicket of Hridoy whose 41 ball-20 was without any boundary.

Hridoy's dismissal sparked a collapse as Bangladesh lost the rest of the six wickets for 69 runs with Pathirana kicking up the things.

The young prodigy produced a beauty to further disrupt Bangladesh as he had Mushfiqur Rahim caught by Dimuth Karunaratne.

Shanto still keeping the side in the race as the wickets were tumbling at the other end. However his resistance came to an end when Theekshana clean bowled him, spinning one past him viciously. That also denied his second ODI century by 11 runs.

However, Shanto's 122 ball-89 runs knock was studded by seven fours.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh could add just two runs before being all out.

Source: BSS