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SHARJAH: Sri Lanka has convincingly defeated Bangladesh by five wickets in its opening encounter in T20 World Cup on Sunday.
Batting first, Bangladesh had given Sri Lanka a 172-run target.
Mushfiqur Rahim, with an undefeated 57 and opener Mohammad Naim, who hit 62, starred for the Tigers after being put into bat by the 2014 champions at a hot and humid Sharjah.
Bangladesh went to 40 in the sixth over before they lost their first wicket and the sparks flew.
Liton Das (16) was caught by Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka at mid-off trying to hoist Lahiru Kumara into the outfield.
However, Liton and Kumara then exchanged angry words with fellow Bangladesh opener Naim pushing away Kumara.
Both umpires had to intervene before the game continued.
Kumara went on to bowl a ´beamer´, clocked at over 140kmh, at Mushfiqur in the penultimate over, forcing the Bangladesh player to take evasive action.
Naim made 62 from 52 balls before he was eventually dismissed in the 17th over, caught and bowled by Binura Fernando.
Bangladesh had seen star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan clean bowled by Chamika Karunaratne for just 10 with his side on 56-2.
Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim put on 73 for the third wicket as Bangladesh upped the pace.
The classy Mushfiqur went to his sixth T20 half century off 32 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.
Sri Lanka were without key spinner Maheesh Theekshana who had claimed eight wickets in three qualifying matches as Sri Lanka swept into the Super 12 stage.
