Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs. A close contest that took the match into the death overs. Despite not being good with the bat, still the visitors took the match to a thrilling one.
Sri Lanka scored 257/9 in 50 overs and in response Bangladesh scored 236 runs in 48.1 overs.
It was Bangladesh’s 2nd match in the Super Four. They lost their previous match against Pakistan by 7 wickets as the Pakistan bowlers shattered their batters.
Bangladesh after winning the toss opted to bowl first.
Lankan openers must be disappointed as they lost Dimuth Karunaratne (18 runs) in the 6th over. Then a solid partnership built between Pathum Nissanka (40 runs) and Kusal Mendis (50 runs) of 74 runs. Both of them stabilize their team.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (93 runs) produced a much needed run for the team. His hard hitting in the death overs helps his team to get there. He hits 8 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. In the end Dasun Shanaka (24 runs) also helped him to get the team total to 257 runs in 50 overs by losing 9 wickets.
Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud both get 3 wickets each. Shoriful Islam settled with 2 wickets.
Bangladesh started well and put 55 runs for the first wicket by Mohammad Naim (21 runs) and Mehidy Hasan Mirza (28 runs). But they failed to carry this momentum and suddenly fell 4 wickets in just 83 runs.
After that some little relaxation goes to the visiting team as Mushfiqur Rahim (29 runs) and Towhid Hridoy (82 runs) added 72 runs together for the team. Hridoy played well from one end but he didn’t get any support from the other end. He hits 7 fours and a six in his innings. But as the run rate went on increasing it took the risk and had to lose his wicket.
Maheesh Theekshana, Dasun Shanaka and Matheesha Pathirana got 3 wickets while Dunith Wellalage took 1 wicket.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka, Player of the Match
"When I went to bat, wicket was not easy to bat on. My plan was to play my normal game and back myself. My plan was to play my normal game and back myself. My plan was to play as late as possible. Was waiting for the ball to come to me, not go too far forward. I was trying to bat deep, plan was to get 250 for the team. Knew that wicket is going to play big part for spinners."
Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh Captain
“It was a good toss to win, but we didn’t bowl well and credit to Sri Lanka for the way they handled the new ball. Sadeera took the game away from us. 260 on that wicket. We needed a partnership at the start. There was help for the bowlers. Our top four didn’t get enough. Hridoy batted really well. he played LPL (Lanka . Premier League) here. Had a good tournament. There are lots of ifs and buts you can talk about. We tried our best. Seamers were bit on the expensive side but they picked up all the wickets so we can’t complain there.”
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka Captain
“Bangladesh bowlers bowled really well, especially Hasan Mahmud. So I thought if I hit the seam, it can work. And I delivered. When there’s no frontline bowlers, someone needs to chip in. Normally Kasun and Maheesh deliver at the top. But Maheesh delivered at the end. It’s matter of time, I have played good enough cricket to deliver. Kusal and Sadeera read the wicket really well and played accordingly.”