Bangladesh started off their T20 World Cup Super 12 stage with a thumping defeat of 5 wickets against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Sunday.
It was a convincing victory in the end for Sri Lanka, with seven balls to spare. Chasing 172, at one stage, Sri Lanka needed 82 from eight overs, it looked like Bangladesh had the game in their grasp, especially with three overs from Mustafizur Rahman and two from Shakib al Hasan in hand. But it all went awry from thereon, Sri Lanka took 31 from two overs to bring the asking rate down and then Saifuddin conceded 22 from the 16th. Bangladesh's fielders, mainly Liton, let the team down big time by dropping two catches of match winners Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Asalanka went onto score an impressive 49-ball 80 and Rajapaksa scored 31-ball 53.
It's their highest successful run-chase in T20 World Cups. Sri Lanka got off to a flier, then slipped up in the middle, before the partnership between Asalanka and Rajapaksa turned things around in superb fashion. 171 looked like a good total from Bangladesh especially with the attack they had. The pitch however played much better than what we've seen at Sharjah previously this year and those two dropped catches from Liton Das proved to be extremely costly. The first of those dropped catches was when the balance starting shifting. Sri Lanka needed 81 off the last eight, having gone from 71/1 to 79/4. Another wicket and Bangladesh would've been right on top. Instead, Rajapaksa got a big slice of fortune on his 30th birthday and never looked back. For Bangladesh Shakib and Nasum scalped two wickets each.
Earlier, after winning the toss Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka asked Bangladesh to bat first. Considering the wicket will favour the spinners, Bangladesh brought up left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, leaving fast bowler Taskin Ahmed out.
Bangladesh scored a formidable total of 171. Thanks to Mushfiq’s 37-ball 57 and Naim’s 52-ball 62. That was a good batting performance by Bangladesh who managed to post a more than competitive total. The Bangladesh openers gave the team a good start and Mushfiqur Rahim gave the finishing touch as he announced his return to form with his maiden T20 World Cup fifty. Naim set the foundation as he took on the bowlers in the powerplay and Bangladesh were pretty pleased with the way others played around him, which led them to a commendable total.
