At Dallas’ Grand Prairie Stadium, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in a thrilling match to get off to a winning start in the T20 World Cup.
The victory occurred just when nobody was betting on Bangladesh because of their poor performance in the lead-up to the world cup.
In the history of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh’s only other victory over a side with a better ranking was against the West Indies in the competition’s first year in 2007.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of Bangladesh, won the crucial toss and predictably chose to send Sri Lanka at bat first. The bowlers’ decision was sound, as they held Sri Lanka to a below-average 124-9 before smashing the target with a tremendous adrenaline-pumping century of 125-8 in 19 overs.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (3-22) and pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3-17) each took three wickets, while fast bowler Taskin Ahmed (2-25), who is playing in his first game back from injury, got two wickets. Tanzim Hasan Sakib, another pacer, took 1-24.
Although it appeared that the bowlers were the main factor in the win, Towhid Hridoy’s 20 ball-40 was the difference maker in the low-scoring match.
Later, Mahmudullah Riyad calmly concluded the matter as Sri Lanka took quick wickets to put Bangladesh out of the game.
Soumya Sarkar gave Bangladesh a dismal start when he top-edged a delivery from Dhananjaya de Silva to Wanindu Hasaranga at mid-on, giving Bangladesh a second-ball duck.
Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, who took 4-18, delivered a twin blow, dismissing captain Shanto for 7 after Tanzid Hasan Tamim was out for 3.
A 63-run partnership between Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy for the fourth wicket ultimately proved to be crucial to Bangladesh’s triumph.
In his knock, Hridoy smashed four sixes and one four. After hitting Hasanranga three straight sixes, he was removed from the game.
Hasaranga also removed Liton Das from the game after he made 36 of 38. After that, Thushara returned with a bang, taking two wickets in as many deliveries, till Matheesha Pathirana removed Shakib Al Hasan for eight runs.
When it appeared like Bangladesh’s triumph was in jeopardy, Mahmudullah relieved the pressure by hitting Dasun Shanaka for a six when his team needed to score 11 runs from 12 balls and only had two wickets remaining.
But Mahmudllah held his composure admirably to complete the victory in that penultimate over.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers maintained the team’s winning trajectory with a disciplined bowling effort.
With Pathum Nissanka shredding away Bangladeshi bowlers in a spectacular batting display, Sri Lanka got off to a smooth start.
Nissanka scored 47 off 28 (seven fours and one six) for the team-best effort.
But Taskin Ahmed made his breakthrough when he got rid of Kusal Mendis (10) after he hit him two consecutive boundaries.
Bangladesh regained control of the match when Mustafizur was introduced and went on to dismiss Kamindu Mendis (4) and Nissanka in his next two overs.
After Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope, Rishad destroyed them with a bowling performance that was a career best, capturing three wickets for just 22 runs.
Asalanka made 19 while Dhananjaya made 21.
After losing wickets one after the other to be bowled out for a poor total, Sri Lanka was unable to recover from the collapse.
After losing to South Africa by six wickets, Sri Lanka suffered its second straight setback, raising doubts about their chances of making it to the Super 8.
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