Mushfiqur Rahim slammed an unbeaten 72 off just 35 deliveries as Bangladesh gunned down 215 to register their 1st win of the Nidahas Trophy. Sri Lanka’s 214 was the highest score made at the Premadasa but Bangladesh took no time in rewriting the record books with their chase.
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Needing 215 to win at the Premadasa, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das did the needful for the visitors in the powerplay, carting the Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts on their way to a 74 run partnership. Das, in particular, was impressive as he took on every bowler who came his way, slamming 5 sixes to make 43 in just 19 deliveries. He was the 1st to fall however, that too after a six over fine leg, as Nuwan Pradeep trapped him right in front.
Bangladesh looked nothing like the side that had played India just a couple of days back as they came at the hosts’ bowlers hard. The Lankan bowlers did not respond well to the barrage, bowling a mix of length and overpitched deliveries that the Tigers had no trouble dealing with. Tamim Iqbal continued his onslaught alongside Soumya Sarkar but lost some momentum after the powerplay and was eventually dismissed giving Thisara Perera an easy return catch.
Read : Execution in middle wasn’t great, but win helps confidence – Perera
The wicket incidentally was Perera’s 50th and he became the 4th Sri Lankan, behind Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, to pick up 50 T20I wickets.
Sarkar made 24 off 22 but Mushfiqur kept the boundaries coming and once the former was dismissed, found a more able partner in Captain Mahmudullah. The pair put on 42 in 19 deliveries but Mahmudullah fell in the 18th over to give Sri Lanka a chance at clawing back into the game.
Thisara Perera then managed a direct hit to dismiss Sabbir Rahman and with Nuwan Pradeep hitting the block hole repeatedly in the 19th over, things seemed to be swinging Sri Lanka’s way. However, after bowling 4 near perfect deliveries, Pradeep faltered, bowling a full-toss to the one man Sri Lanka would not have wanted him to err against. Mushfiqur slammed the 5th delivery of the 19th over beyond the boundary and took a single off the next to leave Bangladesh 9 to get in the last over.
A two and a boundary off the 1st two deliveries of the last over all but sealed the game in Bangladesh’s favour as they ran out winners by 5 wickets with Mushfqur, fittingly, hitting the winning runs.
Sri Lanka were put into bat earlier in the day and Kusal Mendis looked in blistering form from the get go, smashing a six and a four off Taskin Ahamed in the 1st over of the game to get the hosts’ innings underway. The young man, known more for his classical stroke-play, belted the bowlers to all parts on his way to a 26-ball half century that included 2 fours and 4 sixes.
He received great support from opening partner Danushka Gunathilake at the other end as the left hander smashed 3 fours and one glorious six, over extra cover, on his way to 26. The pair put on 56 in four and a half overs with Mustafizur Rehman getting the breakthrough for the visitors, bowling Gunathilake.
Read : Kusal Janith lights up the Premadasa in Lankan win
The real fireworks began once Kusal Perera made his entrance. The left and right-hand combination of the two Kusals put on 85 runs at a brisk pace as Sri Lanka’s run-rate soared over 10 runs an over.
Mendis fell off the bowling of Mahmudullah for 57, immediately after carting the bowler for a six over mid-wicket and Dasun Shanaka, sent up the order, fell two balls later as Bangladesh threatened to claw their way back into the game.
Dinesh Chandimal came and went but Upul Tharanga, who was surprisingly sent in ahead of Thisara Perera with just 5 overs left in the innings, and Kusal Perera put on a fiery 55 in 4.2 overs to take Sri Lanka to 214 at the end of their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka lost both Kusal (74 off 48) and Thisara Perera (0 off 1) in the last over while Tharanga remained unbeaten on 32 off just 15 deliveries.
The win for Bangladesh has thrown the tournament wide open as all three teams have now registered wins. Sri Lanka will next face the Indians on Monday 12th of March at the same venue.
