Bangladesh pull off heart stopping 5 wicket win over Sri Lanka with 2 balls to spare
Bangladesh pulled off a heart stopping 5 wicket win with two balls to spare over Sri Lanka on a 35-ball unbeaten 72 by Mushfiqur Rahim in the third fixture of the Hero Nidahas Trophy Triangular on Saturday at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Needing 9 off 6 at 205 for 5, Rahim took 2, 4, 2 and 1 off Thisara Perera in a knock containing 5 boundaries and 4 sixes.
Put into bat, Sri Lanka scored a record 215 off 20 overs on the back of blistering half centuries by Kusal Janith Perera and Kusal Mendis.
Bangladesh was equal to the task posting 74 for the first wicket with Tamim Iqbal striking 46 off 27 (6×4, 1×6) and iton Das 43 off 19 (2×4, 5×6). Sri Lanka got the big wicket of Das trapped leg before wicket by Nuwan Pradeep in the fifth ball of the sixth over. The first 5 overs had yielded 65 as Bangladesh brought up the 100 in 9.2 overs. But Sri Lanka struck swiftly again getting rid of Tamim Iqbal caught and bowled by Thisara Perera in the third ball of the 10th over with no addition to the total.
The two Kusals – Janith Perera (74, 48b, 8×4, 2×6) and Mendis (57-30b-2×4, 5×6) unleashed a sweet savage batting display sharing in an 85-run second wicket alliance off 55 balls in 8.5 overs to take Sri Lanka to 141 for 2 off 13.2 overs when Mendis departed.
Put into bat, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with Kusal Mendis flicking for six the last ball of the first over by Taskin Ahmed, the over yielding 13. Dhanushka Gunathilaka continued the momentum hammering Mustafizur Rahman for two boundaries as the second over fetched 11; Sri Lanka 25 for no loss. By the third over the total was 31. Mendis went on to loft Ahmed for six and a single with Gunathilaka too following suit as the total breezed to 43 in 3.3 overs Mendis on 22 off 8 balls with a boundary and 2 sixes and Gunathilaka on 21 off 15 with 2 smacks to the fence and a six. The Lankan 50 came up in 3.5 overs off 23 balls. With the total on 56 Bangladesh got the wicket of Gunathilaka bowled by Rahman through the gate as he lunged forward for 26. His knock off 19 balls contained 3 boundaries and a six. Kusal Mendis continued the onslaught straight driving Rahman for four with Kusal Janith Perera in company; Sri Lanka 62 for 1 Joined by Kusal Janith soon followed suit smiting Rubel Hossain for two boundaries as Sri Lanka reached 70 for 1 wicket in the six overs power play. Mendis moved to 30 off 16 (2×4, 2×6) with Kusal Janith on 14 off 12 (2x) the total reading 79 for 1. Mendis struck his third six off Nazmul Islam in the 10th over as Sri Lanka moved to 98; Mendis was on 41 off 21. The 100 came in 10.2 overs. Kusal Janith struck a six and boundary in the 11th over moving to 32 0ff 22 with 3 boundaries and a six . Mendis, in his element then hoisted Mustifuzur Rahman for six in spectacular fashion to bring up his 50 off 26 balls studded with 2 boundaries and 4 sixes. After 12 overs Sri Lanka was on 124 for 1 with Kusal janith on 38 off 37 inclusive of 3 boundaries and a six. Mendis then smashed the first delivery off Muhammad Muhamadullah for six to midwicket as the Bangladesh skipper brought himself on as the seventh bowler. Next ball Mendis fell attempting a second six caught in the deep for 57 off 30 balls laced with 2 boundaries and 5 sixes with the total on 141 off 13.2 overs.
At that stage the run rate read 10.21 per over, three balls later Dasun Shanaka exited without scoring giving Muhamadullah his second wicket in the over. He was caught by Sabbir Rahman. Kusal Janith Perera sauntered to his half century 52 off 34 deliveries striking 6 boundaries and a six. The Lankan 150 was brought up in 87 balls in 14.3 overs. But Bangladesh claimed a third quick wicket in the space of 12 balls that of Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal for 2 with no addition to the total. But the advent of Upul Tharanga reignited the sixes charge as he raced to 14 off 6 with a boundary and a six with Sri Lanka coasting to 174 for 4 off 17 overs. Kusal Janith kept up the tempo with two consecutive swiped boundaries off Mehidy Hasan Miraz reaching 66 off 41 with 8 boundaries and a six the total reading 183 for 4 off 17.3 overs. He went on to smash Rubel Hossain for six racing to 73 off 47 and the total was 198 at the end of the 19th over.
Tharanga was on 26 off 11. He proceeded to move back and swipe Mustafizur Rahman to the fence to bring up Sri Lanka’s 200 came in 19.1 overs off 115 balls. Kusal Janith Perera fell soon after attempting a big hoist to be caught in the deep leg for 74 off 48 laced with 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. The total was 205 in 19.2 with the fifth wicket alliance between Kusal Janith Perera and Upul Tharanga yielding 55. Thisara Perera departed two balls later without sounding the board offering a catch trying to accelerate the score as Sri Lanka closed on 214 for 6 in 20 overs with Jeevan Mendis smashing a six and with him Tharanga on 32 off 15 with 4 boundaries and a six.
Bangladesh’s run chase became more and more ominous reaching 139 for 2 in 13 overs. The 150 came in the 14th over with Mushfiqur Rahim on 30 off 15 balls with two boundaries and sixes apiece, and Soumya Sarkar on 24 off 21 with 2 boundaries and a six. With the match reaching needling point Sri Lanka struck one run later with the reintroduction of Nuwan Pradeep who caught and bowled Soumya Sarkar. The third wicket partnership yielded 50. After 16 overs Bangladesh needed 40 to win off 24 with 7 wickets intact. After 17 overs the deficit reduced to 27 off 18. Rahim on 46 and Mahmudullah 20 off 10. Mushfiqur Rahim moved to 50 off 24 (4×4, 3×6), but Sri Lanka got Mahmudullah caught Kusal Mendis bowled Chameera making it 193 for 4 in 17.3. Needing 18 off 10 Sri Lanka struck again running out Sabbir Rahman for a duck; 197 for 5. But Rahim dealt a six to reach 50 and cut the deficit to 10 off 6 at 205 for 5.
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
