Despite defeating Afghanistan, Bangladesh is unable to take advantage of Super Four. After losing against Pakistan, the Tigers needed to win their last two matches to reach the final. But Shakibra could not win against Sri Lanka. Lost by 21 runs. That’s almost the end of Bangladesh’s dream of the final.
At the beginning of the match, the Lankans scored 257 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs. In response, Bangladesh’s innings stopped at 236 runs.
Two openers Mehdi Hasan Miraj and Mohammad Naeem Sheikh gave Bangladesh a good start chasing runs. But no one could increase the individual innings. Miraj was out for 28 runs and Naeem was out for 21 runs. After that, Shakib-Liton quickly returned to the dressing room. Shakib scored 15 runs with 3 litons.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Tawheed Hriday tried to catch the pressure of the team after losing 4 wickets. Both made a pair of 72 runs. Mushfiqur got out after scoring 29 runs off 48 balls. Meanwhile, Tawheed Hriday picked up fifty. But he could not win the team. He scored 82 runs before getting out. Besides Shamim 5, Taskin 1, Shariful 7 and Nasum 15 runs. Hasan remains unbeaten by 10 runs.
Earlier, Tiger captain Shakib Al Hasan invited Sri Lanka to bat after winning the toss at the beginning of the match. The two Lankan openers signaled a stormy start when they came out to bat. But they could not raise the pair. Dimuth Karunaratne got out with 18 runs off 17 balls off Hasan Mahmood.
Another opener Pathum Nishanka made a partnership of 74 runs with Kushal Mendis who came down to bat for the second wicket. Shariful returned Nishanka who scored 40 runs from 60 balls. This tiger pacer dismissed Kushal Mendis who scored 50 runs in the next over. Asha Lanka scored 10 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva scored 6 runs.
Meanwhile, Sadira Samarawickrama batted brilliantly with team leader Dasun Shanaka in the sixth wicket pair. Both made a pair of 60 runs. Shanaka was dismissed for 24 runs. Meanwhile, Samaravikrama was on the way to complete his personal half-century century. He scored 93 runs before being dismissed in the last ball.
Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed took maximum three wickets for Bangladesh. Besides, Shariful Islam took two wickets.
(09 September/MM)