Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in their Asia Cup Super Fours encounter on Saturday in Dubai thanks to the heroic fifties of opener Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy, who supported their economical bowlers.
Dasun Shanaka’s strong 64 (37 balls) helped Sri Lanka reach 168 for seven, but Saif (61, 45 balls) and Hridoy (58, 37 balls) provided the ideal response, allowing Bangladesh to reach 169/6 in 19.5 overs.
Even though Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan to Nuwan Thushara in the first over, they never really faltered in a challenging chase. Saif and captain Litton Das made good company, scoring 59 runs for the second wicket in 5.2 overs.
Dunith Wellalage, a left-arm spinner who joined the team after returning home to attend his father’s funeral, was taken for two sixes by Saif, who was in flowing form, and then added another maximum off Thushara.
Saif lost Das to Wanindu Hasaranga despite reaching his fifty in thirty-five balls. As Bangladesh got closer to the mark, Saif and Hridoy formed a fine little partnership of 54 for the third wicket, with Hridoy punishing spinner Kamind Mendis for 16 runs in the 15th over.
But in his quest for more acceleration, the right-hander was dismissed by Hasaranga, leaving Hridoy to finish the chase—a feat he nearly finished before losing to Dushmantha Chameera. Bangladesh lost two wickets in the final over as they panicked a little, but they were still able to cross the finish line.
The bowlers from Bangladesh had previously mostly been reliable in terms of line and length, but Dasun Shanka’s strong fifty helped Sri Lanka reach a respectable 168 for seven.
With openers Pathum Nissanka (22, 15 balls) and Kusal Mendis (34, 25b) adding 44 runs in 5 overs, Sri Lanka, who were sent in to bat first, got off to a quick start in the innings.
As Lanka gained early momentum, Nissanka hit three consecutive fours off pacer Shoriful Islam, while Mendis hit a six off left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed.
Nissanka’s departure, however, altered the course of the match until Shanka (64 off 37 balls) brought them back to life after an aggressive flip off pacer Taskin Ahmed found Saif Hassan in the deep. Mendis went quickly after Lanka fell to 58 for two after he skyed left-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan to Saif Hassan close to the backward square leg.
Following the Power Play portion, in which the Lankans scored a respectable 53 for 1, Kamil Mishara and Kusal Perera never really got going as the boundaries dried up in the middle overs.
Although Lanka was unable to locate the boundary ropes for over five overs during that period, they may have viewed Mishara and Perera’s dismissals as a boon.
With pace-off deliveries and cutters, spinner Mahedi and Bangladesh’s most successful bowler, Mustafizur Rahman (3/20), kept the SL hitters in their thrall.
As SL found themselves at 97 for 4 in 13.4 overs, Mishara attempted a reverse lap against Mahedy but was bowled out, and Perera beat Rahman to stump Liton Das.
To save Sri Lanka, however, former captain Shanka and his replacement Charith Asalanka (21) formed a 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shanaka fetched his fifty in a spectacular manner, using his brute force to smash the ball far and high.
To get to the mark in 30 balls, the right-hander, who was spilled on 38 off Rahman, hit pacer Shoriful Islam for two straight sixes.
However, it was left-arm spinner Nasum who truly felt Shanaka’s power as the Lankan pounded him for 4, 6, 6, and the final one, a booming sweep, to advance his side.
But Asalanka’s run out broke that partnership and allowed Bangladesh to reenter the game before Shanaka hit Taskin for a four and six in the last over.
