Bangladesh put Sri Lanka on the brink
View(s):By Champika Fernando in Dubai
It was a night where the initiative swung one way and then the other, but ultimately Bangladesh’s batting partnerships proved decisive. The foundations of their triumph were laid by Saif Hassan’s sparkling 61 and Hridoy’s measured 50, as the pair defused
Sri Lanka’s spin and seam threat and ensured the chase never veered out of control.
Dasun Shanaka’s heroics were outgunned by Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy, who troubled Sri Lankan bowlers – AFP
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s innings was lit up by a resurgent Dasun Shanaka. Promoted to number five, the former captain delivered a blistering unbeaten 63 from just 37 balls. His knock, laced with six sixes and three fours, injected much-needed momentum into an innings that was threatening to meander after a promising start.
Put into bat,
Sri Lanka began brightly as openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis raced to 44 in five overs. Nissanka looked elegant, striking three boundaries and a six, but fell to Taskin Ahmed attempting one shot too many. Mendis followed for 34, caught sweeping Mahedi Hasan, while Kamil Mishara’s cheap dismissal left Sri Lanka wobbling at 72 for three at the halfway mark.
From there, Shanaka took charge. His intent was evident from the outset as he deposited Shoriful Islam deep into the stands with a monstrous 95-metre hit. The middle overs, often Sri Lanka’s Achilles heel in T20 cricket, instead became a launchpad, thanks to Shanaka’s ferocious striking. He reached his half-century in just 30 balls, his first since January 2023, with back-to-back sixes off Shoriful.
Asalanka, the captain, chipped in with a breezy 21 before being run out, while Mustafizur Rahman’s clever variations accounted for three late wickets. Still, Shanaka’s unbeaten assault ensured Sri Lanka closed at a competitive 168 for 7, a total underpinned almost solely by
his brilliance.
The innings carried an emotional note too, with Sri Lanka’s players donning black armbands in memory of Suranga Wellalage, father of allrounder Dunith. The young spinner, remarkably, rejoined the squad a day after paying respect to his father, a gesture that drew admiration across the cricketing fraternity.
Any hopes Sri Lanka had of defending 168 rested on early breakthroughs, and Nuwan Thushara provided one immediately, castling Tanzid Hasan with a perfect off-cutter in the opening over. But those celebrations proved short-lived.
Saif Hassan played with remarkable authority, finding the boundary at will and unsettling Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Alongside his captain Litton Das, he added 59 off just 34 deliveries, a stand that shifted the balance firmly in Bangladesh’s favour.
Hasaranga, introduced into the attack in the seventh over, struck with his third delivery to remove Litton for 28, breaking the stand and offering Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope. But Saif had other ideas. He brought up his half-century off just 36 balls, peppering the stands with four sixes and stroking a solitary boundary with finesse. Confident against both pace and spin, he combined flair with composure, ensuring the required rate never spiralled out of control.
Together with Hridoy, Saif added 54 runs for the third wicket, the pair rotating strike smartly and punishing anything loose. Hasaranga, again, provided a breakthrough with the final delivery of his third over, as Saif miscued a slog sweep to long-on. At 114 for three, Sri Lanka sensed an opening.
Yet Hridoy, calm under pressure, anchored the chase superbly. His fifty came off 31 balls, and alongside Shamim Hossain, he ensured Bangladesh were close to the finish line. He was trapped leg-before for 58 off 37 balls by Dushmantha Chameera but by then writing was on the wall for Sri Lankans. The pair’s 45-run fourth-wicket stand left Sri Lanka’s bowlers helpless. However, Dasun Shanaka struck twice defending five runs off the final over but it could not stop Bangladesh from winning by four wickets.
For Sri Lanka, the defeat was bruising. On a night where Shanaka rediscovered his touch, it was Bangladesh’s batsmen who had the final say, leaving Sri Lanka with their Asia Cup campaign on the balance.