Keeping Sri Lanka‘s runs within reach was possible due to the Tigers’ bowlers’ skill. Bangladeshi batsmen needed to bat responsibly and build a partnership to best the match. But despite a good start, the batsmen could not maintain consistency. One-man Towhid Hridoy tried but it didn’t work. Despite coming close, the Tigers could not finish the game bringing the results in their favor. Bangladesh is on the brink of exit from the Asia Cup after losing the game.
Bangladesh lost by 21 runs against Sri Lanka on Saturday (September 9). Bangladesh won the toss and sent Sri Lanka into bat first at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With the firm batting of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka collected 257 runs losing 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
In reply, despite a good start, Bangladesh lost consecutive wickets and collapsed for 236 runs. For the Tigers, Hridoy fought alone against the Lankans on this day. Nasum Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud tried on the last wicket, but it only could reduce the margin of defeat.
Shakib Al Hasan‘s team left the country dreaming of a title before the Asia Cup. But except for one match against Afghanistan, Bangladeshi batsmen have failed in every match. It happened time and again against Sri Lanka too. The Tigers could not handle the Lankan spinners. Six Bangladeshi batsmen returned to the pavilion by giving away their wickets only to Dasun Shanaka and Maheesh Theekshana.
Litton Das, captain Shakib, and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim failed to perform in the crucial match. As a result, the Tigers are on the verge of exit after losing two matches in a row in the Super Four. Except for a miracle happens, the final match against India is now a mere formality.
Not that the Lankans were doing very well when they came out to bat first. Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne (18) for the team’s 34 runs. Another opener Pathum Nissanka (40) departed after the score reached 108. Kusal also departed with a half-century of 117 runs. He scored 50 runs off 73 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. The Lankans, who were losing wickets at regular intervals, lost the wicket of Charith Asalanka (10) for 144 runs and Dhananjaya de Silva (6) for 164 runs.
But on the other hand, by that time, Samarawickrama had formed a storm with the bat. Captain Shanaka paired with him this time. The duo added 60 runs. Shanaka, who was becoming dangerous, departed with 24 runs off 32 balls. In the end, Sri Lanka scored 257 runs by losing 9 wickets with the bat of Samarawickrama. He scored 93 runs off 72 balls hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes.
In response, Bangladesh openers Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz got off to a good start. This pair added 55 runs in 11 overs. After that, Miraz, who scored 28 runs from 29 balls, returned with a catch from Shanaka. However, the Tigers lost 3 more wickets when they scored 60 to 83 runs. Naim scored 21 from 46 balls, Shakib scored 3 from 7 balls and Litton got 15 runs from 24 balls.
Hridoy and Mushfiq added 73 runs in the fifth-wicket partnership to bring Bangladesh back into the match. however, Mushfiq (29) put the Tigers in danger by throwing away his wicket with an irresponsible shot. Then Bangladesh’s innings collapsed again. On the one hand, Shamim Hossain (5) returned even though he played with responsibility. Bangladesh was knocked out of the match when Theekshana dismissed Hridoy for the team’s 197 runs. Hridoy played an innings of 82 runs off 97 balls with 7 fours and 1 six.
Nasum and Hasan were lighting the lamp of hope by adding 20 runs to the last wicket pair. But Bangladesh lost by 21 runs when Nasum was bowled on the first ball of the 49th over.
Dasun Shanaka scalped 3 wickets for 28 runs in 9 overs against Sri Lanka. Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana also took 3 wickets conceding 69 and 58 runs in 9 overs respectively. Dunith Wellalage took the rest of the wicket for the victorious side.
Sri Lanka – 257/9 (50.0)
Bangladesh – 236/10 (48.1)
Result – Sri Lanka won by 21 runs
Player of the match – Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Playing Xis
Sri Lanka | Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Maheesh Theekshana, and Matheesha Pathirana. |
Bangladesh | Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Naim, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, and Nasum Ahmed. |
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