Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Bangladesh opened their Super Four campaign in the Asia Cup with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing 169, Bangladesh reached the target with one ball remaining, thanks to strong batting performances from Saif Hassan and Tawhid Hridoy.
Sri Lanka, asked to bat first, posted 168 for 7 in their 20 overs. Their innings was built around captain Dasun Shanaka, who struck an unbeaten 64 from 37 balls, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 172.97.
Sri Lanka had made a steady start, reaching 50 without loss, before Taskin Ahmed dismissed Pathum Nissanka for 22. Sheikh Mehedi then tightened the grip with two quick wickets, removing Kusal Mendis (34) and Kamile Mishara to leave the Lankans 65 for 3.
Shanaka counterattacked to rebuild the innings. He plundered 17 runs off Nasum Ahmed’s 15th over, hitting two sixes over the leg side and a four past short fine leg. Kusal Perera fell to Mustafizur Rahman, but Charith Asalanka offered support at the other end.
Mustafizur was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers, taking 3 for 20 in 4 overs. With those wickets, he equalled Shakib Al Hasan’s Bangladesh record of 149 wickets in this format. Bangladesh, however, were guilty of poor fielding, dropping at least three straightforward chances.
In reply, Bangladesh showed intent from the outset. At the five- and ten-over marks, they were ahead of Sri Lanka’s scoring rate at 48 for 1 and 82 for 2.
Saif Hassan led the way at the top of the order, scoring 61 from 45 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. He reached his fifty in 36 balls.
Tawhid Hridoy followed up with a fluent half-century of his own, making 58 from 37 deliveries, including 4 fours and 2 sixes, bringing up his fifty off 31 balls.
Their efforts brought Bangladesh to the brink of victory, needing just 12 runs from the last two overs.
But nerves crept in as two wickets fell in successive deliveries in the final over. With one run required from the last two balls, Nasum Ahmed pushed the ball into the off side and scrambled through for the winning single.
The win gave Bangladesh a perfect start to the Super Four stage, having lost to Sri Lanka earlier in the group phase.
