Tigers celebrating the wicket of Sri Lanka cricketer Kusal Perera in the third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday. -AFP
Sakib al Hasan came up with an all-round performance to help Bangladesh register record 163 runs win over Sri Lanka in their second match of the tri-nation one-day international tournament in Dhaka on Friday. Sakib claimed 3-47 while skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza and pacer Rubel Hossain got two wickets each as Bangladesh bowled out Sri Lanka for 157 runs in 32.2 overs to record their biggest ever win against any opposition after batting first.
Opener Tamim Iqbal also starred for Bangladesh, hitting 84 off 102 balls, as Bangladesh posted 320-7 after Mashrafee won the toss and opted to bat first at Mirpur. On a day, when most of the senior players excelled, Mushfiqur Rahim also made 62 off 52 balls to boast only second ever 300-plus total for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, who were without injured captain Angelo Mathews, could never threaten to overhaul Bangladesh score as they have now suffered their second successive defeats in the tournament.
Thisara Perera made highest 29 runs for Sri Lanka, who lost their first match against Zimbabwe by 12 runs on Wednesday. Bangladesh, who beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets in their first match, took the control of the game from the beginning after Tamim put 71-run with Anamul in the opening stand.
Dropped by stand-in skipper Dinesh Chandimal in the very first over at slip, Anamul lived dangerously before he was dismissed by Perera for 35 runs. Tamim shared 99 runs with Sakib for the second wicket before wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella successfully reviewed a not out decision against him to end his innings, featuring seven fours and two sixes.
Sakib gave return catch to Asela Gunaratne in 38th over but Bangladesh were still on course to a big score thanks to Mushfiqur, who was later bowled by Perera. Mahmudullah (24) and Sabbir Rahman (24 not out) provided a late impetus to ensure Bangladesh cross 300-run mark. Perera claimed 3-60 while Nuwan Pradeep grabbed 2-66 for Sri Lanka.
'I think with the bat everyone contributed,' said Sakib. 'Mushfiqur's contribution was very important. Tamim has been our best batsman in the last 2-3 years and he played really well today. We need to improve every day. There is healthy competition.
'We don't want to relax. We hope to continue our good form. In times to come, we will be playing 3 games in 5 days. And we have to do little things right,' he added. Skipper Mashrafee claimed the win as their best in the recent past. 'If you look at recent past, it is one of our best wins. Obviously, you can learn from every game. I think Tamim could have got a hundred,' said Mashrafee.
'Shakib also could have gone on. The bowling struggled in South Africa but we are back at home. Sabbir has been batting at 3 for a long time,' said Mashrafee. 'But we feel he can do the job with lesser overs to go. We are trying to find one more batsman who can hit like Sabbir and then we would be fine,' said Mashrafee.
'Hopefully, Shakib will continue batting like what he did today at number 3 in times to come. Tamim always looks hungry for runs and Mushy has been doing well always for us,' he added. Sri Lanka will face Zimbabwe in their do-or-die match of the tournament on Sunday.
-Atif Azam, AA
Latest News