Sports Desk: In a nail-biting encounter, Bangladesh edged Sri
Lanka past by two wickets to make a winning start to the T20 World Cup today
at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
The victory came at a moment when hardly anyone put a bet on Bangladesh
following their sub-standard performance ahead of the global event.
It was Bangladesh’s only second victory over higher ranked team in their T20
World Cup history since their win against West Indies in the inaugural
edition in 2007.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the all important toss and
expectedly put Sri Lanka into bat first. The bowlers justified the decision
right by restricting Sri Lanka to a below par 124-9 and then overhauled the
target with 125-8 in 19 overs by overcoming a massive adrenaline pumping
moment.
Pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3-17) and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (3-22) claimed
three wickets apiece while fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who is playing his first
game after recovering from the injury grabbed 2-25. Another pacer Tanzim
Hasan Sakib took 1-24.
While it looked the bowlers were key behind the victory, it was Towhid Hridoy
whose 20 ball-40 made all difference in the low-scoring affair.
Later, Mahmudullah Riyad finished the things off with cool head when Sri
Lanka looked all over on Bangladesh by taking some quick wickets.
Bangladesh made a disastrous start with Soumya Sarkar getting second-ball-
duck as he top-edged a Dhananjaya de Silva delivery to Wanindu Hasaranga at
mid-on.
Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara who snapped up 4-18 dealt a double strike, taking
out Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 3 and extending skipper Shanto’s lean patch by
dismissing him for 7.
Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy put on a 63-run for the fourth wicket which
eventually became key behind Bangladesh’s victory.
Hridoy hit one four and four sixes in his knock. He was dismissed by
Hasanranga after hitting him three consecutive sixes.
Hasaranga also took the wicket of Liton Das who made 36 of 38. Thushara then
came back with fire to take two wickets in consecutive deliveries before
Matheesha Pathirana undid Shakib Al Hasan for 8.
As it looked Bangladesh’s victory was in jeopardized state, Mahmudullah
released the pressure by hitting Dasun Shanaka six with his side needing 11
from 12 balls with two wickets at hands.
However, Mahmudllah completed the victory in that penultimate over by holding
his nerve well.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers put a disciplined bowling effort to keep the side
on the course of a victory.
Sri Lanka made a fluent start with Pathum Nissanka tearing apart Bangladesh
bowlers in a sensational batting.
Nissanka made team-best 47 off 28 with seven fours and one six.
However, Taskin Ahmed broke through with the wicket of Kusal Mendis (10) who
struck him consecutive two boundaries.
The introduction of Mustafizur brought Bangladesh back to the game as he got
the rid of Kamindu Mendis (4) and Nissanka in his consecutive overs.
With Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka giving Sri Lanka the ray of
hope to regroup, Rishad dismantled them in a career-best bowling effort that
saw him taking three wickets for just 22 runs.
Dhananjaya made 21 while Asalanka contributed 19.
Sri Lanka could never recover from the collapse as they lost wickets in
cluster to be bowled out for a below par total.
This was Sri Lanka’s second consecutive defeat following its six-wicket loss
South Africa and it left their Super 8 hopes at peril.
