2nd Match Asia Cup 2023
Sri Lanka VS Bangladesh Played Pallekele, Sri Lanka on 31 August 2023
Sri Lanka 165/5 in 39 Overs (Chrith Asalanka 62, Sadeera Samrawickrama 54, Shakib Al Hasan 2/29, Shoriful Islam 1/23, Taskin Ahmed 1/34, Mahedi Hasan 1/35)
Bangladesh 164 All Out in 42.4 Overs (Nazmul Hossein Shanto 89, Towhid Hridoy 20, Mohammad Naim 16, Matheesha Pathirana 4/32, Maheesh Theekshana 2/19, Dashun Shanaka 1/16, Dhananjaya de Silva 1/35
Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets with 66 balls to spare
Player of the Match: Matheesha Pathirana 4/32
Bangladesh squad that required so many dramas and debates to select and so many high voltage meetings and press conferences to announce was crashed by depleted reigning champions Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in a one-sided encounter at Kandy. Batting first on a little bit sticky wicket of uneven bounce Bangladesh batting poorly was bundled out for paltry 164 in 42.4 overs. Sri Lanka cruised to victory scoring 165/5 with 66 balls to spare.
Lankan attack was seriously depleted as four first choice bowlers Lahiru Kumara, Dusmantha Chameera, Madhushanka and Hashaaranga were declared unfit. Yet the second-choice attack bowling to their best of their abilities restricted Bangladesh to well below par score. True the wicket had some support for pacers and gripped a bit for the spinners. But it was not a 164 as Bangladesh batting crumbled for their own follies. Bangladesh could compete much better had their scored 225-230 runs applying themselves and playing their full quota of their overs. But the young teaming some experienced players absent for different reasons failed to give a good account of them. Their star players Shakib and Mushfique also failed to deliver. Only Nazmul Shanto producing a painstaking 89 gave some respectability to their innings. The bowlers however did their best. But in the end the target was too low to defend. Winning easy defending champions Sri Lanka looks set to advance to the group of four, while Bangladesh encounter against Afghanistan in two days at Lahore has turned into a do or die match for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh had high hopes with their team making to the final or even winning it. ODI is their favorite format. But all knows that trouble started since their captain Tamim Iqbal during the ODI series suddenly announced retirement and later after a bit of a drama withdrew upon the request of the cricket loving Prime Minister. But the star opener had to skip the tournament for nursing his waist and eventually opted out from leadership. Star all rounder Shakib was declared captain. After playing some hide and seek selectors announced the squad which among others omitted two key players experienced veteran Mahmudullah Riad and Taijul Islam. Key pace bowler Ebadat Hossain got injured and at the last-minute Litton K Das also became unfit. The selection of squad for the very important Asia Cup created a nationwide debate and controversy. The lack of imagination in the selection was vindicated from inclusion of Anamul Haq Bijoy at the last minute who neither featured in the original squad or in the stand bye.
Yesterday as apprehended Bangladesh top order failed, middle order apart from a brief fight back by Shanto and Hridoy adding 59 for the 4th wicket fell like kingpins against very incisive Lankan attack. Debutant Tanzid Tamim scored dreaded duck, Naim perspired for a while before throwing away his wicket. Shakib fell to a brilliant catch by wicket keeper before he could settle. Mushfique was undone by a short delivery. Pathirana bowling like Slinger Malinga tormented Bangladesh batting taking 4/ 32 in his 7.4 overs. Lankan spinners Theekshana, de Silva, Wellalage also strangled Bangladesh batsmen ill equipped for playing quality spin bowling on turning wicket. Had Lankans taken their chances Bangladesh could be bowled out much cheaper. But they could go as far as 164 only for a painstaking 89 scored by patient Nazmul Hossein Shanto scored off 122 deliveries. Yes, scoring runs on the wicket was not easy. But it was not that Bangladesh team aspiring to go deeper into the tournament would get bundled out cheaply for 164. The team management must be blamed for choosing wrong squad and not preparing them well.
Bangladesh attack had very little to defend. Yet Taskin and Shoriful striking early blows could keep Lankans honest for a while. Getting Lankans down to 3/43 in the 10th over Bangladesh bowlers created a possibility of a fight back. But Sadeera Smarawickrama (54) and Charith Ashalanka (62) adding 78 for the 4th wicket steadied the innings. Shakib stuck blows grabbing two wickets and Mahedi took one. But the target was too small for Bangladesh bowlers creating surprise. Lankans overhauled the target loosing only 5 wickets with as many as 66 balls to spare.
Having lost the match in such a manner it will be a huge challenge for Bangladesh turning around and managing a must win against Afghanistan at Lahore in two days. Otherwise, they have to leave empty handed from Asia cup and there will be a huge hue and cry at home. The preparation for World Cup will come under serious scrutiny.
BDST: 0735 HRS, SEP 01, 2023
SMS
