Asia Cup 2023: Sri Lanka win by 21 runs against Bangladesh

Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs in the second match of the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. This is Bangladesh’s second defeat in the Super Four stage. They previously lost to Pakistan. Here is a recap of the second innings.

Bangladesh batters control the powerplay

Bangladeshi batters started positively in their chase of 258 runs. They did not lose a single wicket in the powerplay. Maheesh Theekshana who has been a really great bowler in the powerplay for Sri Lanka remained ineffective today. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the aggressor role while Mohammad Naim took the anchor role. They scored 47 runs in the powerplay. Miraz scored three fours in the powerplay while Naim scored a solitary boundary. Naim and Miraz shared a 55-run stand before the latter was dismissed shortly after the powerplay. 

Dasun Shanaka leads from the front

Dasun Shanaka took the new ball in the 4th over of the innings. He bowled four overs in the powerplay, but just after the powerplay, he broke the half-century opening stand. He bowled a back-of-the-length delivery to which Miraz tried to pull but the ball connected with the splice to a catch to mid-wicket. Shanaka then even managed to dismiss Naim as well. This was another short ball and he too was dismissed while playing the pull shot. 

Matheesha Pathirana then took the most important wicket of the Bangladeshi innings. Pathirana dismissed the Bangladeshi skipper Shakib Al Hasan who was originally given not out. There was a noise but the umpire, Jayaraman Madanagopal gave the decision in favour of the batter. The review meant that the decision was overturned as there was a spike when the ball was next to the bat on the ultra-edge. Dunith Wellalage then dismissed Litton Das to reduce Bangladesh to 83 runs for the loss of four wickets.

Towhid Hridoy’s fighting knock goes in vain

Towhid Hridoy played a brilliant fighting knock which went in vain as the hosts defeated Bangladesh. Hridoy scored 82 runs in 97 balls but received almost no support from the other end. He shared a 72-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim before the Sri Lankan skipper dismissed the Bangladeshi wicketkeeper. His knock despite the loss of wickets kept Bangladesh in the chase. His knock included 7 fours and 1 six. 

Maheesh Theekshana took the wicket of Hridoy after picking up his first wicket of the game by dismissing Shamim Hossain. He then dismissed Taskin Ahmed. All these three wickets were LBW. Pathirana then dismissed Shoriful Islam by a full-length delivery crashing into the stumps. He then dismissed the last batter Nasum Ahmed with a pinpoint yorker.