Asia Cup, Super 4s: Sri Lanka remain in contention with 21-run win over Bangladesh
Skipper Dasun Shanaka (3/28), thriller spinner Maheesh Theekshana (3/69) and younger Matheesha Pathirana (3/58) have been spot on with the ball as Bangladesh folded for 236 in chase of 258 on the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Bangladesh provided a tough battle via younger Towhid Hridoy (82 off 97 balls) however the evening didn’t have area for a one-man tremendous present.
Now the Lankans could make a real cost in direction of the ultimate with two matches remaining, however Bangladesh’s hopes of getting into the title spherical have been all however over after this setback.
As It Happened
They’d misplaced to Pakistan within the Tremendous 4 opener at Lahore by 7 wickets on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Bangladesh started their chase with them having an actual likelihood to overtake Lanka’s whole.
Openers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim added 55 runs in 11.1 overs, however Shanaka broke the burgeoning alliance.
Miraz pulled Shanaka straight into the palms of substitute Dushan Hemantha, and he quickly dismissed Naim with a pointy bouncer that the batter edged to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.
Bangladesh discovered themselves at 83 for 4 quickly, however veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim and Hridoy added 62 runs for the fifth wicket to take Bangladesh again on monitor.
Mushfiqur was probably not at his fluent greatest however Hridoy performed some pretty pictures en route his fourth ODI fifty, particularly within the arc between mid-wicket and fantastic leg.
When the boundaries have been tough to get the 22-year-old Hridoy saved the board pushing via sharp operating between the wickets.
Shanaka returned to snap the threatening alliance, dismissing Mushfiqur, and slightly later Theekshana trapped Hridoy in entrance of the wicket as Bangladesh’s spirit progressively ebbed away.
Earlier, Samarawickrama, whose 93 got here off simply 72 balls, and Mendis, who made an excellent fifty, fought onerous however Lanka discovered the going a bit robust and ended up with a complete that was nearly difficult.
After the early departure of Dimuth Karunaratne, who edged pacer Mahmud to Mushfiqur behind the stumps, Lanka discovered some sanity via Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis.
Mendis and Nissanka (40 off 60 balls) added 74 runs for the second wicket however the partnership was not at all times easy.
Mendis, specifically, was scratchy within the center and there have been edges and false pictures galore in his 60-ball knock.
Nissanka was comparatively extra fluent, however a intelligent slower supply from Shoriful Islam ended his keep, as even the DRS couldn’t save the batter from the leg-before verdict.
The house aspect misplaced three extra wickets within the span of subsequent 14 overs as they struggled for a vigorous middle-over section.
Samarawickrama took cost of the scenario at this juncture.
One in all Sri Lanka’s higher ODI batters this yr, Samarawickrama negated a relatively sluggish pitch and Bangladesh bowlers throughout his fluent innings.
The precise-hander was certain in his toes motion and judged the size very early, a pulled six off pacer Hasan Mahmud stood as a sworn statement to that.
Samarawickrama and Shanaka added 60 runs for the sixth wicket that carried them previous the 200-run mark earlier than the latter bought out to Mahmud, who was spectacular whereas taking three wickets.
Samarawickrama, who finally bought out within the final over of the innings, might have carried Sri Lanka to a greater place with a bit extra assist however that was not forthcoming.
However the Lankan bowlers ensured that his knock didn’t go in useless.
(With inputs from PTI)
