Sri Lanka snatches thrilling 2-wicket win over Bangladesh
Sri Lanka pulled off a sensational two-wicket victory over Bangladesh and advanced to the Super 4 stage of Asia Cup on Thursday (September 01).
In a must-win last Group B game, Sri Lanka’s tailenders held their nerves to reach 184-8 for their second-highest successful run-chase in a T20 international.
Needing 13 off the last seven balls, No. 9 batter and debutant fast bowler Asitha Fernando (10 not out) smacked two crucial boundaries to end Bangladesh’s run in the tournament even after they posted a decent 183-7.
“In the middle period I thought it was tough. When Kusal and I were at the crease, I felt it was achievable,” Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka said. “When Chamika (Karunaratne) was run out, I thought the game was done, but Asitha Fernando’s two shots were great.”
Afghanistan has already topped Group B with two convincing wins against both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh had only themselves to blame for their ill-disciplined bowling, conceding eight wide balls and four no-balls to ruin the early good work of their batters.
“Death bowling is something we are looking to improve and that has cost us the game,” Bangladesh’s skipper Shakib Al Hasan said. “The last two overs they were eight down, needed to get 17-18 runs and they got with a lot of balls to spare.”
Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain (3-51), one of the three changes Bangladesh made from its last defeat against Afghanistan, did the early damage through his sharp short pitched deliveries, but conceded 17 runs in the penultimate over that included a boundary off a no-ball.
Opening batter Kusal Mendis top-scored with 60 off 37 balls, but got a number of reprieves before he had scored his half century. Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim couldn’t hold on to Mendis’ healthy edge in the second over before the opener got caught behind only to see the offspinner Mahedi Hasan had overstepped.
Bangladesh didn’t go for the television referral when Mendis clearly gloved a catch to Musfiqur down the leg side and also survived a run-out before reaching his half century.
Despite all these let offs, Bangladesh came back strongly when Taskin Ahmed took two splendid catches at third man that included a crucial diving catch of Mendis in the 14th over.
Shanaka smashed 45 off 33 balls and contributed a 54-run stand with Mendi before getting caught at long on in the 18th over off Hasan. But Sri Lanka tail hung in well to snatch a nail-biting victory with four balls to spare when Hasan bowled a no-ball and Fernando ran for two runs.
Earlier, Bangladesh middle and lower order did well by smacking 60 runs off the last five overs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who opened the innings, provided a rollicking start with a knock of 38 off 26 balls. But it was Afif Hossain’s brilliant 39 off 22 deliveries was well supported by Mahmudullah’s 27 and Mosaddek Hossain’s unbeaten 24 off 9 balls which provided Bangladesh a perfect finish.
Sri Lanka’s key leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who got rid of Mehidy in his first over soon after the batting powerplay, took 2-41 and fast bowler Chamika Karunaratne picked up 2-32.
Pakistan will take on Hong Kong in the last Group A game on Friday. India has already topped the group after beating both Pakistan and Hong Kong.
(AP)
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It is thrilling, but no class or consistency. How many chances Mendis gave? All it did was to give SL fans to brag at Bangladesh with hot air at the stadium and on internet forums. Wt is waiting to happen now is to get once again trampled by Afgans tomorrow. Given the situation in their country and what they had gone through in three decades, my hats off to them. They will be in the final with Indians and will lose with honour if they cannot win. But they deserve to lift the trophy because of their remarkable improvement and consistency as a team.
If anybody that deserve the credit for the win, they are the tail enders of the SL team who kept the nerve.
Well, Lady luck smiled at SL in this match. Kushal Mendis’s 60 came giving many chances. Anyhow, it was the building-block for the SL’s win. Real hero was the debutant Asitha Fernando.
SL’s cricket team is very much like the country it self. How many times SL was about to be like the Singapore or go well beyond, be a developed country since 1948? What did we hear about our cricket team after the T20 world cup?
Be cause we are failing in every thing else, let us be happy be happy that our cricket team is winning and make up our minds
Well, SL won the match against Afgans and are still in the tournament to play another day. I am glad. But, had SL not had the luck to win the toss, it would have been a different story!
Brother Ranjith. Not only that, today, SL won again beating Afghanistan!
Afghanistan: 175/6
Sri Lanka: (19.1/20 ov, T:176) 179/6
Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets (with 5 balls remaining): FYI Please…
Mr Amarakoon. Well done Sri Lanka. We beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan. I am very proud of your team. Hope you continue your success. At least we are doing well in cricket never mind the economy etc.
Come on Bro Ranjith. Be positive. At least after a long time, our Cricketers are fighting and doing well. Think this way…if we can do well in Cricket, we can also do well in other fields too. No one said we have to forget about the Economy!
Ok Ok Mr Amarakoon . I agree with you. But how you can do well in other fields by doing well in cricket is doubtful. After all it is throwing a dangerous killer missile at speed, towards a person holding a piece of wood and he or she hitting it and running like a headless chicken, After about 3 weeks of play it ends up as a draw. I am only joking. Don’t take this seriously.