DUBAI: Sri Lanka’s wicket-keeper batter Kusal Mendis led the way with a magnificent half-century while captain Dasun Shanaka scored an important 45 to propel their side to beat Bangladesh by two wickets and qualified for the Super 4s of Asia Cup 2022.
Sri Lanka, after winning the toss, invited Bangladesh to bat first. The decision, however, did not seem to go in the hosts’ favour as their opponents piled up a massive 183/7 in the allotted 20 overs.
Batting first, Bangladesh were off to a dismal start as they lost their first wicket in the third over at a combined score of mere 19 with Sabbir Rahman walking back to the pavilion in disgust after managing to score only five.
Opening batter Mehidy Hasan Miraz and skipper Shakib Al Hasan then anchored the inning with an important 39-run partnership for the second wicket.
The partnership was majorly dominated by the opener, who scored at a quick pace for his 38. He faced 28 deliveries and smashed four boundaries including two sixes to give his side a solid start.
Shakib, on the other hand, held his ground firm with an anchoring knock while wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim fell cheaply for a mere four in the next over and Bangladesh, as a result, slipped to 63/3 in eight overs.
Following the slump, middle-order batter Afif Hossain then took on the Sri Lankan bowlers and raced up the proceedings with his blistering knock and remained unaffected by Shakib’s dismissal in the 11th over, who scored a snail-paced 24 off 22 deliveries.
Afif, however, top-scored for Bangladesh with a quickfire 39 off just 27 balls with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.
A late onslaught from all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain then bolstered Bangladesh to breach the 180-run mark as the side finished at 183/7 in 20 overs. He scored a quickfire 24 off just nine balls including four boundaries.
For Sri Lanka, Chamika Karunaratne and Wanindu Hasaranga bagged two wickets each, while Asitha Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dilshan Madushanka struck out a batter apiece.
