Asia Cup 2022: Batter Kusal Mendis and skipper Dasun Shanaka's valiant innings takes Sri Lanka into the Super 4 after a win against Bangladesh by two wickets and four balls remaining in a thriller group B match of Asia Cup 2022.
In a must win match, Sri Lanka came to chase a big total of 183 runs. Opener Kusal Mendis played his one of best knock & scored 60 runs of 37 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Apart from him skipper Dasun Shanaka played a crucial 45 runs in 33 balls, Chamika Karunaratne also gathered important 16 runs of 10 balls.
The match went at a nail biting stage when Dasun Shanaka got out when the team needed him the most but Karunaratne still kept the Lankan's into the game. In the last two overs the Sri Lankan team needed 25 runs, Karunaratne was still in the crease and gave his best to chase down the total but unfortuntely got runout in the second last ball of 19th over.
From here debutant Asitha Fernando took the lime-light as he scored the final 10 runs in just three balls and also kept Sri Lankan hopes alive in the Asia Cup 2022. For Bangladesh Ebadot Hossain was the leading wicket taker with 3/51, Taskin Ahmad clinched 2/24, Mustafizur & Mehedi got one-one wicket each.
Earlier in the first inning, after losing the toss Bangladesh came to bat first. Batter Mehindy Hasan (38 runs of 26 balls) played quick innings and was helped by skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who promoted himself up to the batting order and scored 24 runs of 22 balls.
At one point Bangadesh were in trouble when they lost 4 wickets for 87 in 10.3 overs but Afif Hossain (39 runs in 22 balls) saved Bangladesh with a furious knock. After he got out, Mahmudullah (27 runs in 22 balls) & Mosaddek Hossain (24 runs of 9 balls) tok their side to a par total.
For Sri Lanka, star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga (2/41) and Chamika Karunaratne (2/32) were the leading wicket takers. Madushanka, Theekshana & debutant Asitha Fernando took one-one wicket each.
Full Scorecard:
- Bangladesh: 183/7 in 20 overs (Afif Hossain- 39 runs in 22 balls, Mehindy Hasan- 38 runs in 26 balls; Hasaranga- 2/41, Chamika Karunaratne- 2/32).
- Sri Lanka: 184/8 in 19.2 overs (Kusal Mendis- 60 runs in 37 balls; Ebadot Hossain- 3/51)
