Mushfiqur epic overpowers Malinga-inspired Sri Lanka

An epic century by Mushfiqur Rahim helped Bangladesh overcome the challenge imposed by a Sri Lankan team inspired by the return of a legend, Lasith Malinga. Bangladesh won the match played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium by 137 runs.

The day/night match was offered with a grass-less, batting friendly pitch, which had very little to offer the spinners.

Being asked to bowl first, Sri Lanka was provided with a dream start, courtesy of Lasith Malinga. The legend who is returning to the Sri Lankan XI after more than a year, struck twice in the very first over of the match.

Litton Das edged a beautiful ball outside off and the experienced Shakib Al Hasan was welcomed rudely by Malinga with a perfect toe-crusher to castle him up.

Adding to Bangladesh’s woes Lakmal hit Tamim with a well-directed short ball, which had him retire hurt. The blow resulted in Tamim’s left wrist being fractured.

Mohammad Mithun who then joined Mushfiqur Rahim put on a valuable partnership of 131 runs. The duo took full advantage of the batting-friendly wicket and hit the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground.

The stand was also helped by sloppy Sri Lankan fielding. Dilruwan Perera was the main culprit as he dropped Mushfiqur on 10 off Thisara at square leg. He was also involved in some miss-fields thereafter.

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Skipper Angelo Mathews also did spill a rather difficult chance before Aponso dropped a straight forward catch off a Malinga no-ball at fine leg.

Lasith Malinga once again starred with his partnership-breaking wicket of Mithun. This was followed with the wicket of Mahmudullah for 1 off Amila Aponso.

Wicket keeper, Kusal Perera then took a brilliant catch behind the stumps to get rid of Mosaddek Hossain as Malinga picked his 4th.

Mushfiqur isolated on the other end was running out of partners as Mehedy Hasan too was dismissed courtesy an excellent return catch by Lakmal. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza also perished trying to blast Dananjaya over the line.

Dananjaya struck once more before Mushfiqur brought up his 6th ODI century with a boundary off Lakmal.

Mustafizur then was run out in the 47th over when Bangladesh was on 229/9. It followed with a great display of sportsmanship and courage by Tamim Iqbal as he walked in to support Mushfiqur to add a few more runs to the Bangladeshi total.

Mushfaqur who did the fullest justice to Tamim’s commitment, lifted Bangladesh’s score from 229 to 261 with some wonderful shots. Tamim will miss however the remaining Asia Cup matches.

With Lasith Malinga having finished his 10 overs in the 46th over, Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka had no clue about bowling in the death as Mushfiqur just blasted them to all parts of the ground.

Bangladesh finished on 261 batting 49.3 overs with Mushfiqur falling as the last wicket for a well-made 144 off Thisara. Kusal Mendis took a brilliant catch at long-on to seal the end of the Bangladeshi inning.

Photos: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Asia Cup 2018 – Match 1

Sri Lanka’s run-chase did get a brilliant start with Tharanga smashing 22 runs off 11 deliveries, but Kusal Mendis’ dismissal in the 12th delivery of the match started Sri Lanka’s collapse which persisted right till the end.

The Sri Lankan batsmen showed aggression and it backfired on them losing wickets quite regularly.

Highly talented top order batsmen, Kusal Mendis, Dananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera and skipper Angelo Mathews all were out LBW missing dead straight deliveries.

Upul Tharanga after a superb start chopped on a Mortaza delivery on to the stumps while Dasun Shanaka ran himself out courtesy of a mix up with Mathews, for which Mathews was responsible.

Thisara Perera fell as the 7th wicket playing a shot of frustration and finding the top-edge which fell safely in Mehidy Hasan’s pair of hands.

Then came Sri Lanka’s best partnerships in this inning, a 27-run partnership between Dilruwan and Lakmal, and a 24-run partnership between Dilruwan and Aponso.

With the final wicket of Malinga also been taken Bangladesh sealed a 137-run victory bowling out Sri Lanka for 124. This also is Bangladesh’s biggest victory in the  Asia Cup as well as Sri Lanka’s lowest total against Bangladesh.

Mushfiqur Rahim without a doubt was adjudged Man of the Match.

Sri Lanka will play Afghanistan in their next encounter in Abu Dhabi while Pakistan will take on Hong Kong in Dubai tomorrow.