Bangladesh had the game under control when they got rid of Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka after dismissing opener Kusal Mendis in Thursday’s must-win Group B clash at the Dubai International Stadium. Sri Lanka lost both their set batters at a crucial phase of the game, but Bangladesh’s tendency to choke in the closing stages went on to hurt them once again.
As a result, Sri Lanka eked out a two-wicket win and secured a place in the Super Fours of this Asia Cup. Late blows from Afif Hossain (39 off 22 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (24 not out off 9 balls) had earlier propelled Bangladesh to a formidable total of 183 for 7 after they were put in to bat.
Thereafter, pacer Ebadot Hossain’s short balls, along with timely strikes from Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, gave Bangladesh the upper hand, braving a game-changing 54-run fifth-wicket stand between Mendis (60) and Shanaka (45).
But Ebadot fluffed when his team needed him to hold his nerves. He bowled a no-ball in the third ball of the penultimate over, which also yielded Sri Lanka a boundary. And if that wasn’t enough, spinner Mahedi Hasan, after conceding a four off the second ball of the deciding over to tailender Asitha Fernando (10not out), also overstepped in the next ball. That wrapped up the game for Sri Lanka as Fernando had taken two runs off it as well.
They reached home with four balls to spare. In other words, those two no-balls made matters much easier for Sri Lanka even though they kept losing wickets. Bangladesh conceded a total of 17 extras as compared to Sri Lanka’s 10. That’s criminal in T20s.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 183/7 in 20 overs (A. Hossain 39; W. Hasaranga 2/41). Sri Lanka 184/8 in 19.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 60, Dasun Shanaka 45). Lanka won by 2 wkts.