ANI
Colombo
Maheesh Theekshana’s spin magic and skipper Dasun Shanaka’s breathtaking spell allowed Sri Lanka to comfortably claim the second-longest ODI win streak (13) in their Asia Cup Super Four triumph against Bangladesh on Saturday.
It was a game of spells and nerves and Sri Lanka did a better job on both counts to clinch a 21-run victory in the ‘Nagin Derby.’
While chasing a modest target of 258, Bangladesh’s first 10 overs resembled Sri Lanka’s approach in the first innings. They began with an attacking mindset, trying to accumulate as many runs as possible in the first three to four overs.
In the first four overs, Bangladesh scored 28 runs, going at a healthy run rate even as opening batters Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan looked to assess the surface.
Both batters looked to be in their comfort zones as Bangladesh registered 47 runs on the board in the first 10 overs. The Tigers didn’t change their approach as Hasan struck a half-volley with the middle of the bat to find the fence.
With the Tigers threatening to seize the initiative and take the match away from the hosts, skipper Dasun Shanaka stepped up to take matters into his own hands and provided a breakthrough.
He dismissed the in-form batter Hasan for 28(29).
Scores: Sri Lanka 257/9 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 93, Kusal Mendis 50; Hasan Mahmud 3-57) Bangladesh 236/10 (Towhid Hridoy 82, Mushfiqur Rahim 29; Dasun Shanaka 3-28).
