Drop catches cost Bangladesh their Super 12s opener against SL
AFP
|| CF DESK ||
Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 86-run stand saw Sri Lanka win against Bangladesh by 5 wickets in their first game of Super 12 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing the target of 172, Sri Lanka did not start well as Nasum Ahmed bowled Kusal Perera (1) in the very first over of the innings. But Asalanka's unbeaten 80 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (53) lead them to victory.
Following the early blow, Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka (24) amassed 69-run stand to up the pace.
Then, Shakib al Hasan made the breakthrough in the 8th over, removed Nissanka in his second over which made him the highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup history, surpassed Pakistan veteran Shahid Afridi with 40 wickets.
Shakib took his second successive wicket in the same over as he castled Avishka Fernando for a naught.
Wanindu Hasaranga made 6 before getting caught by Mohammad Naim off Saifuddin.
Asalanka was dropped on 63 by Liton Das off Mustafiz during the 14th over. The latter dropped another catch on 12th over which gave another chance to Rajapaksa.
Asalanka made his runs from 49 balls, hitting five boundaries and five sixes.
Apart from Shakib, left-armer Nasum bagged two wickets and Mohammad Saifuddin took a wicket.
Opting to bat first Bangladesh openers led to a great start as Mohammad Naim and Liton Das (16) put on 40 for the opening wicket.
Tigers went to 40 in the sixth over before they lost their first wicket and the sparks flew.
As Liton was caught by Dasun Shanaka off Lahiru Kumara at the mid-off, however, Liton and Kumara then exchanged angry words with fellow Bangladesh opener Naim pushing away Kumara.
Unfortunately, Shakib al Hasan (10) who tried to flip over the leg side was castled by Chamika Karunaratne.After that, left-arm batter Naim extended his innings to hit his second World Cup half-century with Mushfiqur Rahim.
Naim added 73 runs with Mushfiq for the third wicket stand, however, Naim was dismissed on 62 off 52 by Binura Fernando.
Then Mushfiq completed his sixth T20 fifty with Afif Hossain (7), he scored 57 off 37 deliveries smashed five 4's and a couple of six.
In the end Mahmudullah Riyad's unbeaten 10 and Mushfiq's knock helped the side to score 171-4.
