Tigers’ defeat to Sri Lanka by 21 runs derailed them from the track to move into the final before their last match left to play in the ongoing Asia Cup on Sunday.
It was second successive defeat for Bangladesh in the Super Four stage following the first match to Pakistan in the knockout phase.
As it was must win situation for Bangladesh on Sunday against Sri Lanka, Tigers shaped the expectation higher to remain on track to move into the final when they restricted Sri Lanka for moderate target after Shakib Al Hassan sending the hosts to bat first.
But, this time again the batters’ dismal show shattered all hopes after being bundled out on just 21 runs short of reaching the winning target and in the two successive Super Four matches the batter could not prove their potential in the vital encounter.
Batters disappointing performances in the Asia Cup is a big concern ahead of the World Cup to begin from early of the next month.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hassan, who regrets for their poor batting display in the very first match against Sri Lanka when Bangladesh went down by five wickets.
Shakib, after failing to score even 200 runs and suffered defeat to Pakistan in the first Super Four match, hopped they will bounce back in the second match against Sri Lanka. Might be the captain failed to motivate his batters, as their innings followed a similar script and could not reach the moderate target of 258 despite going closer when the fifth wicket stand of TowhidHridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim taking the chase deep.
Bangladesh's batter could failed to prove the difference when after 39 overs, Bangladesh were equal to Sri Lanka when both the sides score were 173 for five wickets. In the last 10 overs Bangladesh needed 81 to win when the exact amount Sri Lanka had taken off their final 10.
Though Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim put on a 72-run stand for the fifth wicket, but rest of the batters failed to overcome the pressure built by Sri Lanka’s bowlers and ultimately Bangladesh fell just short of the finish.
It was very much disappointing that Bangladesh batters could not face even almost the occasional bowler of Sri Lankan captain DasunShanaka.
Shanaka, who bowled nine overs for just the second time in his career, is yet to bowl a full allotment of ten overs in ODIs, on the day ended his spells with 3 for 28 runs in nine overs.
In fact, Tigers’ batter surrender to the occasional bowler of captain Shanka when he himself made the major damage of Bangladesh innings with breaking the opening partnership of Mehidy Hassan Miraz and Mohammad Naim who were threatening 55 runs in the stand. He then got Mushfique to depart the fifth wicket stand, the highest partnership of 72 runs with TowhidHridoy and that might be destroyed all hopes of Bangladesh, as rest of the batters just left the crease in regular intervals to flod the innings on 236, just 22 runs away of the winning mark.
