T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksha made a stunning partnership to close off the match with 5 wickets against Bangladesh.
Batting first on a tricky Sharjah track, Bangladesh started off steady but lost Liton Das(16) inside the power play. Trying to go over mid-off against kumara eventually getting caught at the inner circle.
A heated battle of words between Liton Das and Lahiru kumara took place where Naim das also got involved and had to be separated.
Shakib Al Hasan(10) was also quick to return from the batting crease as Chamika Karunaratne caught him napping. Sri Lanka had the upper hand till now with two wickets and most importantly keeping the run rate was under control. Chamika was very good in his three overs only giving 12 runs.
The course of the game quickly changed the momentum as the partnership between Naim and Bangladesh skipper grew. They provided their team with a proper run rate as well as reduced further more damage. Although wanting to finish the innings unbeaten, Naim was out with a soft dismissal off BInura Fernando.
The quest of achieving a high score didn’t stop with Naim’s wicket as Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah got their team to a much respectable score of 171. This score however would have been much higher if Lahiru kumara’s toe-crushing Yorkers would not have found their target.
Bangladesh with this momentum gave an early blow to get rid of Kushal Perrera in the very first over. Nasum Ahmed’s arm ball found the woodwork and destroyed it too. With this early wicket, Bangladesh would have hoped to make most of it, however, it didn’t turn that way at all.
The other opener along with Charith Asalanka curated a a craft of needs. One brings two and two brings three after Shakib clubbed Nissaka and Fernando. Failing again after slump IPL debut Wandindu Hasaranga was chained with the score. This gave Bangladesh the time to rethink their tactics.
Charith Asalanka was single-handedly stretching the game for Sri Lanka. Hitting gorgeous sixes and rotating the strike handsomely as well. Needing another 45 runs from 5 overs. It was Bhanuka Rajapaksa who attacked Mohammad Saifuddin’s over taking 22 runs making it a run-a-ball game.
From then on it was just a matter of strike rotation and with Asalanka on the crease firing a six every over it was soon over. Although Bhanuka departed needing 7 runs, it was not an issue for Sri Lanka to secure the two valuable points.
Watch the T20 World Cup highlights of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka.
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