Kusal stars in record Sri Lanka chase

Dasun Shanaka and Thisara Perera built on Kusal Mendis’ half-century as Sri Lanka achieved their biggest Twenty20 international run chase to earn a six-wicket win. Kusal’s 53 off 27 set the tone in Sri Lanka’s pursuit of 194, before Shanaka (42*) and Thisara (39*) finished the job in Mirpur to help the visitors to a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim’s 66 had helped Bangladesh to post a seemingly imposing total of 193-5 from their 20 overs.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 193/5 (M Rahim 66*, S Sarkar 51, Mahmudullah 43) lost to Sri Lanka 194/4 in 16.4 overs (Mendis 53, D Shanaka 42*) by six wkts.

ISHANT SET TO PLAY FOR SUSSEX COUNTY

LONDON: Finding no takers in the Indian Premier League, India Test fast bowler Ishant Sharma is set to play for English county side Sussex in five first-class and eight List A games. According to the county’s official website www.sussexcricket.co.uk, Ishant is awaiting a formal approval from the BCCI.

FEDERER TWO WINS AWAY FROM NO 1 SPOT

ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer delivered a crushing 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Ruben Bemelmans on Wednesday as the Swiss star moved just two wins away from becoming the sport’s oldest world No 1. The 36-year-old needs to reach the semi-finals to take back the No 1 spot from Rafael Nadal.

BHAMBRI REACHES CHENNAI OPEN SEMIS

CHENNAI: India’s Yuki Bhambri booked a spot in the semi-final of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger tennis tournament with a come-from-behind win over Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama. The 25-year-old Delhi player, allowed his rival to bounce back when in sight of the first set, before regrouping to take the next two on a hot afternoon to post a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win.