Asia Cup action gets under way
Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 137 runs in Asia Cup opener
Bangladesh overpowered five-time champions Sri Lanka by 137 runs to provide a dramatic opening to the 14th edition of the Unimoni Asia Cup at the Dubai International stadium.
The action began with Lasith Malinga taking two wickets in the first over for Sri Lanka. This was followed by a fighting 131-run partnership between Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun in 23.3 overs.
Rahim had a magnificent knock of 144 runs off 150 balls, studded with 11 boundaries and four sixes, to help Bangladesh post an impressive total of 261 off 49.3 overs. Malinga’s spell of 4 for 23 went in vain.
Chasing the total, Bangladesh wrecked Sri Lankan innings and bowled them out for 124 runs in 35.2 overs. They lost their first three wickets for 32 runs. Opener Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva fell for ducks while Kusal Perera and opener Upul Taranga could manage only 11 and 27 runs respectively.
In the first ten overs they were tottering at 42 for 4. It would have been 57 for 5 had Bangladesh fielders Nazmul Hossain, who came in for Tamim, and his skipper Mashrafe Mortaza not misjudged a top edge from Dasun Shanaka and watch the ball drop in front of them.
However three runs later, Shanaka got run out for 7. With half the side back in the pavilion for 60 runs in 16.1 overs, Bangladesh took complete control of the match.
With the fifth ball of this first over, Malinga had opener Liton Das caught at slip. With the next ball Malinga felled Shakib Al Hasan.
In the second over, opener Tamim Iqbal was hit on the wrist by pacer Suranga Lakmal’s delivery and had to retire hurt. Bangladesh would have been 6 for 3 had Sri Lankan skipper Mathews not dropped Mithun on one at mid-wicket off Malinga. Rahim too got dropped at his score on 10 by Dilruwan Perera at square leg off Thisara Perera. Mithun went on to complete his half century in 52 balls and steer Sri Lanka past the 100 run mark. Rahim too completed his half century in 67 balls.
Malinga ended the stubborn partnership in the 26th over forcing Mithun to top edge his delivery. Next man Mohammad Mahmudullah lasted only one ball. Malinga got his fourth wicket when Mosaddek Hossain’s attempted pull shot ended up hitting his glove.
When Lakmal had Mehidy Hasan bowled for 15, Bangladesh slipped to 175 for 6. Rahim then carried the innings with help from skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (11). After Mustafizur Raham fell, an injured Iqbal came out to bat despite a fractured wrist. He gave support to Rahim and they put on 32 runs in 2.4 overs before Rahim fell to Perera.