Asia Cup: Hard-fought victory for Sri Lanka

Sports Reporter : Sri Lanka registered a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their ODI match of the 12th Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday. Winning in the coin session Bangladesh decided to bat first and made a modest 204 for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka reached the winning target making 208 for the loss of seven wickets when they had just one over to spare. Bangladesh bowlers dominated over the Sri Lankan batsmen in early stage but they failed to gain victory at last stage. Sri Lanka made a disastrous start losing their early three wickets for just eight runs. At one stage the islanders lost their five wickets for 75 runs. Later, Angelo Mathews and Chaturanga de Siva repaired the damage adding together 92 runs in the sixth wicket stand. Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten with 74. His 103-ball innings was decorated with seven fours and a six. Chaturanga de Silva hit a polished 44 from 52 balls with five shots through the ropes. Besides, Lahiru Thirimanne made 33 from 60 balls with three fours. Al-Amin Hossain bagged two wickets at the cost of 42 runs while Mahmudullah Riyad, Ziaur Rahman and Arafat Sunny took one wicket a piece. Earlier, Bangladesh made a good start as Anamul Haque and Shamsur Rahman, the two openers of Bangladesh put up together 74 runs in the opening stand before Shamsur Rahman was trapped leg before wicket by Ajantha Mendis when the team’s total was 74 for the loss of one wicket. Anamul Haque notched up a painstaking 49 from 86 balls hitting two fours and a six while Shamsur Rahman made a polished 39 off 57 balls with six boundaries. Later, Bangladesh faced batting collapse as the home side lost their early five wickets for 119 runs. Then Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad built another notable partnership. They contributed together 55 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Mahmudullah Riyad was cleanly bowled out by pacer Suranga Lakmal when Bangladesh’s score was 174 for the loss of six wickets. Then the batsmen of the defending runners-up failed to make any notable partnership. Mahmudullah Riyad and Nasir Hossain added 30 runs each to the Bangladesh total. Ashan Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Ajantha Mendis bagged a pair of wickets each for 11, 29, 32 and 55 runs respectively.