Asia Cup 2022 Championship: Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka Skipper Dasun Shanaka and Kusal Mendis Wins it for Lankan
Two teams desperate to qualify and prove themselves after losing a match from Afghanistan went into a nail-biting thriller battle, Sri Lanka emerged on top to win the game by two wickets, chasing eight runs in the last over
Dasun ShanakaA record chase by Sri Lanka of a massive target of 183 has made them the third team to qualify for the super-4 after Afghanistan and India. After facing a lot of struggles back in their country and team stability, Sri Lanka looked delighted after winning the match when they jumped to the middle of the ground celebrating.
Bangladesh lost to defend their substantial total, probably because of the extras. Bangladesh bowled eight wide balls and four no-balls against zero wides or no-balls from Sri Lanka.
Harsha Bhogle wrote on Twitter, “2 no-balls in the last 2 overs from Bangladesh?? A suicidal run-out to sacrifice the last remaining batter from Sri Lanka? A close match where both teams allowed the situation to get to them! #SLvsBD #Asiacup2022”
Sri Lanka started the day by winning the toss and inviting Bangladesh to bat first. They put up a substantial total of 183/7, which was not chased ever before on this ground. A reasonable team effort from Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 38(26), Shakib Al Hasan’s 24(22), Afif Hossain’s 39(22), Mahmudullah’s 27(22) and some blast in the end from Mosaddek Hossain’s 24(9) put Bangladesh in a vital spot.
Wanindu Hassaranga and Chamika Karunaratne were the lead wicket-takers for Sri Lanka with two wickets each. In contrast, Dilshan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana bowled with a low economy of 6.5 and 5.8 to return with a wicket each.
Determined Sri Lanka got a solid start for the problematic chase. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka put on a 45-run stand in 5.3 overs. They lost three more wickets in the next 3.2 overs, which reduced them to 77/4.
Ebadot Hossain led the destruction for Bangladesh by taking three of these 4-wickets. But then came the Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka. He and Kusal Mendis built a 54 runs partnership in the successive 35 balls. Kusal Mendis departed at 60(37), whereas the skipper continued to add runs and take the total to 158/7 before being dismissed at 45.
With 26 runs in 13 balls, Chamika Karunaratne 16(10) and Asitha Fernando 10*(3) played a brilliant cameo to chase down the total with two wickets and four balls to spare.
Ebadot Hossain’s 19th over went expensive for 17 runs, changing the game in Sri Lanka’s favour, and the remaining was done by the two no-balls bowled by Mehedi Hasan in the final over. Thus, the Tigers gave away Sri Lanka an easy win to reach Super 4.
Sri Lanka will once again clash with Afghanistan in the first fixture of Super 4 with another chance to avenge the defeat. Another do-or-die fixture is in the pipeline, scheduled for 2nd September 2022, between Pakistan and Hong Kong. Pakistan will be the favourites for this match.