T20 World Cup 2021: Charith Asalanka & Bhanuka Rajapaksa guide Sri Lanka to a victory as they beat Bangladesh by 5 Wickets

The 15th Match of the T20 World Cup 2021 is a Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh encounter played on Sunday, 24th October 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates.

This is the 3rd encounter of Group 1 – the Super 12’s round of the 2021 T20 World Cup as on Saturday we saw; Australia winning against South Africa & England beating West Indies.

After this result, the Group 1 standings look like this; England is at the top, Sri Lanka are 2nd and Australia is at 3rd position with 2 points each whereas South Africa, Bangladesh and West Indies are at 4th, 5th & 6th spot respectively.

Line-up for Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh – T20 World Cup 2021

A change each for both teams 👇#Bangladesh Taskin Ahmed is replaced by Nasum Ahmed#SriLanka Binura Fernando comes in for Maheesh Theekshanahttps://t.co/QqezGHSebf | #BANvSL | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/nHH934TC4y

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 24, 2021

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl.

Sri Lanka’s batting performance lead them to win by 5 Wickets

1st Innings – Bangladesh puts 171 Runs on the board

Good start for Bangladesh as their openers Mohammad Naim & Liton Das put up a 40 Runs Partnership. However, Lahiru Kumara broke this pair as Das walks back to the pavilion. Bangladesh was 40/1 in 5.5 overs.

Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan is next at the crease, plays a short knock of 10 (off 7) as Chamika Karunaratne strikes & takes the big wicket – bowled out Shakib Al Hasan.

However, Naim along with Mushfiqur Rahim carried the innings for Bangladesh as they made a 73 Run Stand before Mohammad Naim was caught & bowled by Binura Fernando. The Bangladeshi opener Naim reached his half-century before getting out at 62 (off 52 balls). At that stage, Bangladesh was 129/3 in 16.1 overs.

Mushfiqur Rahim was till the end, scored an unbeaten 57 runs (off 37 balls) was joined by Captain Mahmudullah after losing another wicket. Mahmudullah played a quick knock of 10* (off 5). They made sure, to put up a 171 Run total in the end. Hence, Bangladesh finishes their innings at 171/4 (20 overs).

2nd Innings – Sri Lanka needs 172 Runs to win

Despite, a wicket down early on, as they lost Kusal Perera after Nasum Ahmed bowled him out. Sri Lanka was finding boundaries at regular intervals and looked comfortable.

As Pathum Nissanka & Charith Asalanka made an essential 50+ Stand. However, when it looked like it was slipping away from Bangladesh – Shakib Al Hasan strikes to take 2 Wickets in an over. Shakib Al Hasan similarly dismisses Nissanka and Avishka Fernando as both walks back after being bowled out. Sri Lanka was at 71/3 (8.4 overs).

At that stage, Sri Lanka was in trouble, however – Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa brought Sri Lanka back into the contest.  Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the birthday boy played a great inning scoring 53 runs (off 31 balls), lost his wicket in the end.

However, Charith Asalanka remained unbeaten scored 80 (off 49 balls), hit ten boundaries – guided his team to victory.

As a result, Sri Lanka won the match by 5 Wickets, bagged 2 points. Sri Lanka finished at 172/5 (18.5 overs).

Hence, the Player of the Match was given to Charith Asalanka for his amazing performance – 80*(49).

Sri Lanka continue their brilliant form at the #T20WorldCup 2021 💪#SLvBAN | https://t.co/msiJ66VBxr pic.twitter.com/wPpAPm12yi

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021