In its do-or-die game, Sri Lanka won against Bangladesh and qualified for the Super-4s. In the group game held tonight, Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets. Sanaka and Kusal Mendis shined in this last-over thriller.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bowl first. Though Bangladesh’s opener Sabbir got out early, his partner Mehidy Hasan Miraz (38) settled the innings with skipper Shakib Al Hasan (24). Even though wickets fell regularly, Bangladeshi batters maintained a high run rate. With the help of responsible knocks by Afif Hossain (39), Mahmudullah (27) and Mosaddek Hossain (24*), Bangladesh scored 183/7 in 20 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga (2/41) and C Karunaratne (2/32) scalped two wickets each.
Sri Lanka got a good opening stand while chasing this big total. Pathum Nissanka (20) and Kusal Mendis (60) made a partnership of 45 runs for the first wicket. Once Nissanka got dismissed, Sri Lanka also lost the wickets of Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa within no time. Later, captain Dasun Sanaka (45) settled the chase and made a partnership of 54 runs. In the process, Kusal Mendis also scored a half-century. But, Sri Lanka lost his wicket at a crucial juncture. The responsibility was on the shoulders of Sanaka. He tried his best but got out in the 18th over. Sri Lanka needed to score 8 runs in the last over. That’s when Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana finished off things in just two balls. Thus, Lanka scored 184/8 in 19.2 overs.
With this win, Sri Lanka qualified for the super 4 stage and Bangladesh exited the tournament. Sri Lanka will play its next match against Afghanistan on September 3.
