Dubai: Asia Cup today is do-or-die for both teams of Group-B here in the same match, Bangladesh team scored 183 runs for 7 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs due to the batting of Mehndi Hasan Miraj, Afif Hisen, Osadek Hussain. The target of 184 runs was captured by Sri Lanka with the second ball of the last over to win the match by 2 wickets and entered the Super Four.
- After losing 4 wickets for 87 runs in 10.3 overs, Bangladesh added 96 runs in the final 9.3 overs to take the score to 183 for 7.
- Kusal Mendis’ half-century, Dasun Shanaka’s 45-run innings and Karunaratne and Fernando’s strike in the final overs clinched Sri Lanka’s victory.
Kusal Mendis, who came in to open the innings for the Sri Lankan team chasing the target, played a useful innings for the team, although he did not get much support from the front end. When captain Dasun Shanaka came in to bat and after that there was a partnership of 54 runs between the two in 5.4 overs. Kusal was dismissed as the fifth wicket after scoring 60 runs in 37 balls with the help of 4 fours and 3 sixes. After Dasun Shanaka was dismissed for 45 off 33 balls and Karunaratne for 16, Asitha Fernando scored 10 off 3 balls to give Sri Lanka a 2nd wicket win.
After Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first, Bangladesh, who came in to bat first, had spinners Mehndi Hasan Miraj and Sabir Rahman in the opening. Sabir did not do anything special but Mehndi Hasan Miraj played an aggressive innings and scored 39 runs in 26 balls. Captain Saqib was also dismissed for 24 runs. While Afif Hussain scored 39 runs in 22 balls and Mahmudullah scored 27 runs in 22 balls. However, Mossadeq Hussain scored 24 runs off just 9 balls in the final over. Vanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne took 2-2 for Sri Lanka while Dilshan Madhushanka, Mahish Tikshana and Asitha Fernando took 1-1 each.