Bangladesh is off to a remarkable a journey with a remarkable win over Sri Lanka in the opening game of Asia Cup in Dubai. Their side crushed Sri Lanka team by 137 runs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, they were jolted by some brilliant bowling spell by Lasith Malinga who was making his comeback after a prolonged absence from national duty. He removed Liton Das and Shakib Al Hassan on successive deliveries for ducks. At that time Bangladesh was 1 for 2, and Bangladesh also lost Tamim Iqbal retiring after getting struck on the hand which makes Bangladesh 3 down apparently, when Mushfiqur Rahim reached at the crease to rescue his team.
Mushfiq and Mohammad Mithun (63) added 131 for the third wicket; this partnership laid the foundation to post a respectable total to the Bangladesh score. It was high time for Sri Lanka to break this partnership, when captain decides to bring Malinga back in to the attack he delivers and breaks the partnership, when Mithun tries to hit it over the park but miscued and ball went up into the air wicket keeper holds the catch and Sri Lanka sniffed a major come back in the game when they removed Mahmudullah and Mosaddek on 1 each, On the other hand Mushfiq keep his calm and going smoothly to reach his sixth one-day International hundred until his team lost 9th wicket at 229.
Everyone was discerning that’s it for Bangladesh, surprisingly Tamim Iqbal with one hand (fractured wrist) to escort Mushfiq who was ready to go for big shots, they both added 33 important runs in which Tamim faced only one ball. The former captain remained unbeaten at 144 off 150 with the help of 11 boundaries and 4 sixes. Lasith Malinga finished with 4-23 in his first match in 13 months.
Sri Lanka’s chase never got going, thanks to regular fall of wickets. Sri Lanka was all out on 124 runs in 35.2 overs, in the chase of 262 runs. Mashrafe, Mustafizur and Mehidy grabbed two wickets each while Shakib, Rubel and Mosaddek dismissed one Sri Lankan batsman each. Dilruwan Perera (29) was the top scorer of the sorry Sri Lankan scorecard.
Afghanistan is the third team in the group, who will be facing Sri Lanka on Monday in Abu Dhabi.
Player of The Match: On a match winning knock Mushfiqur Rahim 144 off 150 balls awarded as a player of the match.
Mushfiqur Rahim: “(I was) really surprised to see Tamim come to bat, it’s a great gesture, When I saw him, it boosted me to do something for him and for my country. We didn’t get the start we wanted, but credit to Mithun for taking the pressure away from me. And after that I just took my chances and it paid off.”
Smart scorecard:
Bangladesh 261 in 49.3 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 144, Mohammad Mithun 63; Lasith Malinga 4-23)
Sri Lanka 124 in 35.2 overs (Dilruwan Perera 29; Mustafizur 2-20, Mehidy 2-21)
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