A Nail-Biting Finish in Dubai
In a thrilling Super Fours match at the Asia Cup in Dubai, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets, successfully chasing down a target of 169. The victory brought an end to Sri Lanka’s impressive eight-match winning streak in the T20 Asia Cup, as Bangladesh held their nerve in a tense final over.
Bangladesh’s Chase: Key Performances
Bangladesh’s pursuit began with a minor setback when Tanzid Hasan Tamim was dismissed for a duck. However, Saif Hassan quickly took control, showcasing his impressive strokeplay. He formed a crucial 54-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy. Hassan was the top scorer for his side, with a scintillating 61 runs off 45 balls. Captain Litton Das also contributed with a quickfire 23 off 16 balls, helping Bangladesh finish the powerplay at 59/1.
Hridoy continued the momentum after Hassan’s departure, smashing a towering six and two fours in the 15th over to reach his half-century. He was eventually dismissed for a well-made 58 off 37 balls in the penultimate over.
With five runs needed in the final over, Jaker Ali hit a boundary on the first ball, bringing the equation down to just one run. Though he was clean bowled on the next delivery, and Mahedi Hasan was dismissed for a duck, Shamim Hossain secured the winning single with two balls to spare, sealing a dramatic four-wicket victory for Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka’s Innings: Shanaka’s Heroics
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 168/7, largely thanks to a brilliant half-century from former skipper Dasun Shanaka. Shanaka, known for his finishing skills, dazzled with 64 runs off just 37 balls, an innings that included three fours and six sixes.
Sri Lanka got off to a good start with an opening stand of 44 runs between Pathum Nissanka (22) and Kamindu Mendis (34). However, they lost momentum in the middle overs, falling to 97/4. Shanaka then took charge, forging a partnership with captain Charith Asalanka (21) to push the total to 168.
In a personal milestone during his innings, Shanaka also surpassed the 3,000-run mark in international cricket.
Mustafizur Rahman was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, taking three wickets. He was supported by Mahedi Hasan (two wickets) and Taskin Ahmed (one wicket).