Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by two wickets in Asia Cup 2022. Kusal Mendis got the man of the match award for his two catches and blistering innings of 60 runs in just 37 balls.
While chasing a total of 184, Sri Lanka kept their calmness to defeat Bangladesh in 19.2 overs and qualify for the Asia Cup’s Super 4 round.
Teams
Early on Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field first.
Bangladesh XI:
Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Bangladesh had made three changes with Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, and Ebadot Hossain coming in for Anamul Haque, Mohammed Naim, and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Sri Lanka XI:
Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
Sri Lanka made just one change, with Asitha Fernando making his debut. He came in for Matheesha Pathirana.
Bangladesh Batting
After using all six opening pairs this year, Bangladesh sent out Sabbir Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Both Mehidy has never opened in a T20I game.
Sabbir got out cheaply. Mehidy was unaffected by Sabbir’s departure in the third over, going on to knock two sixes shortly afterward—one down the ground and one ramped behind the wicket while he was on his toes. In the first six overs, he also struck two fours, and Bangladesh quickly reached 55 for 1 in the Powerplay.
Soon after, Mehidy out while attempting to slog Wanindu Hasaranga. But he had already accomplished his task.
Wickets Maintain Sri Lanka’s Momentum
Although Bangladesh had one of their better starts, Sri Lanka continued to take wickets. Mehidy was out in the seventh over, while Mushfiqur Rahim was out in the following over as Chamika Karunaratne got one to rear into his face. Rahim’s attempted glide towards third-man took the bat’s shoulder and only made it as far as the wicketkeeper Mendis.
At the other end, Shakib attempted to maintain the run rate by hitting three fours from Karunaratne in the tenth over. However, Maheesh Theekshana got rid of him in his final over.
Bangladesh gets a late boost from Afif Hossain
Together, Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain scored five fours and three sixes as they added 59 runs for the fifth wicket.
Both were attempting to slog the ball into the deep leg-side field when they fell within four balls of one another. However, immediately Mosaddek Hossain struck two fours. He then added two more fours in the final 17 runs of Asitha’s bowling.
Sri Lanka Batting
In the first three overs of the chase, Sri Lanka’s openers struggled, scoring just 13, before erupting in the 4th and 5th overs, highlighted by Mendis slog-sweeping and sweeping Shakib for two sixes and a four off consecutive balls.
Ebadot Hossain saved Bangladesh’s powerplay by getting rid of Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka in his first over in T20Is just when Sri Lanka appeared to be escaping. Both were short-ball offenses.
Hossain removed Danushka Gunathilaka in his next over, as Taskin made a spectacular catch while running hard from the deep fine-leg boundary. Following the catch, Taskin dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the following over.
Mendis and his luck
In his 37-ball stay, he escaped with four lives. Keeper Mushfiqur dropped him off at Taskin when he was on 2. After being caught behind at 29 by Mahedi in the seventh over, the no-ball siren sounded off.
He smacked at an Ebadot delivery that took a small piece of the glove in the following over. Mushfiqur, the wicketkeeper, and the bowler weren’t certain of it, therefore Bangladesh wasted the opportunity to request a review.
When Mendis, who was on 44, and Shanaka got mixed up, Sabbir had another opportunity, but he missed the stumps because Mendis was at least a foot away from the crease.
Finally, Taskin took a diving catch at third to send Mendis back for 60 runs. Bangladesh had a chance when Mahedi dismissed Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka in the 18th over after he hit a 33-ball 45 with three fours and two sixes.
After that, Sri Lanka scored 17 runs in a tense 19th over bowled by another debutant, Ebadot Hossain, but also lost the dangerous Chamika Karunaratne, who was run out by a direct hit from Shakib Al Hasan.
No-ball Siren
The no-ball siren in Dubai was like pleasant music to Sri Lanka. The TV umpire declared that offspinner Mahedi Hasan had crossed a line fatally twice in the game after Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana scored two runs off the third ball of the final over. By defeating Bangladesh by two wickets, Sri Lanka advanced to the Asia Cup’s Super 4 round.
The Player of the Match, Kusal Mendis says
First six overs, I played my normal game and did that all through. [On the no ball] I came out to bat again, and had a good plan and wanted to complete the game. I had a few chances. I did the best for the team.
I did a lot of practice in Sri Lanka in the last six months. I know my job according to the team’s point of view. I will do everything that is best for my team. Thank You, Sri Lanka supporters.
Also, read Virat Kohli praised Pakistani skipper Babar Azam
Scorecard
Bangladesh Innings
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | b de Silva | 38 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 146.15 |
| Sabbir Rahman | c †Mendis b Fernando | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (c) | b Theekshana | 24 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 109.09 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim † | c †Mendis b Karunaratne | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| Afif Hossain | c de Silva b Madushanka | 39 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 177.27 |
| Mahmudullah | c Karunaratne b de Silva | 27 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 122.72 |
| Mosaddek Hossain | not out | 24 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 266.66 |
| Mahedi Hasan | lbw b Karunaratne | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Taskin Ahmed | not out | 11 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 183.33 |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 6) | 10 |
| TOTAL | 20 Overs (RR: 9.15) | 183/7 |
Did not bat: Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Sabbir Rahman, 2.5 Overs), 2-58 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 6.5 Overs), 3-63 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 7.6 Overs), 4-87 (Shakib Al Hasan, 10.3 Overs), 5-144 (Afif Hossain, 16.4 Overs), 6-147 (Mahmudullah, 17.1 Overs), 7-159 (Mahedi Hasan, 18.1 Overs)
Sri Lanka Bowling
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6.5 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 5.75 |
| Asitha Fernando | 4 | 0 | 51 | 1 | 12.75 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8 |
Sri Lanka Innings (Target: 184 runs from 20 overs)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mustafizur Rahman b Ebadot Hossain | 20 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 105.26 |
| Kusal Mendis † | c Taskin Ahmed b Mustafizur Rahman | 60 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 162.16 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Mahmudullah b Ebadot Hossain | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Danushka Gunathilaka | c Taskin Ahmed b Ebadot Hossain | 11 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 183.33 |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | c sub (Mohammad Naim) b Taskin Ahmed | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | c Mosaddek Hossain b Mahedi Hasan | 45 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 136.36 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva | c Mahedi Hasan b Taskin Ahmed | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | run out (Shakib Al Hasan) | 16 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 160 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asitha Fernando | not out | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 333.33 |
| Extras | (lb 5, nb 4, w 8) | 17 |
| TOTAL | 19.2 Overs (RR: 9.51) | 184/8 |
Did not bat: Dilshan Madushanka
Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Pathum Nissanka, 5.3 Overs), 2-48 (Charith Asalanka, 5.6 Overs), 3-67 (Danushka Gunathilaka, 7.4 Overs), 4-77 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 8.5 Overs), 5-131 (Kusal Mendis, 14.3 Overs), 6-139 (Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, 15.3 Overs), 7-158 (Dasun Shanaka, 17.5 Overs), 8-171 (Chamika Karunaratne, 18.5 Overs)
Bangladesh Bowling
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8 |
| Taskin Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 6 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 4 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 7.75 |
| Ebadot Hossain | 4 | 0 | 51 | 3 | 12.75 |
| Mahedi Hasan | 2.2 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 12.85 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Full Scorecard
