Asia Cup 2023
Sri Lanka VS Bangladesh Played at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka on Match 8
Sri Lanka 257/9 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 93, Kusal Mendis 50, Pithun Nishanka 40, Dasun Shanaka 24, Dimuth Karunaratne 18, Hasan Mahmud 3/57, Taskin Ahmed 3/62. Shoriful Islam 2/58)
Bangladesh 236 All Out in 48.1 Overs (Towhid Hridoy 82, Mushfiqur Rahim 29, Mehedy Miraj 28, Mohammad Naim 21, Dasun Shanaka 3/28, Mateesha Pathirana 3/58, Maheesh Theekshana 3/69)
Sri Lanka won by 21 Runs
Player of the Match: Sadeera Samarawickrama
Bangladesh team management made some crucial mistakes in playing XI selection, team dropped some important catches. Sri Lanka executing their plans perfectly won by 21 runs.
Bangladesh virtually got knocked out from Asia Cup 2023 losing two in two of their three matches in group four. Sri Lanka extending their winning streak to 13 matches elevated their position to the second behind Australia in matters of winning consecutive ODI matches. One more win against Pakistan or India will take the reigning champions to the final. Even a major upset looking unlikely now of Bangladesh winning against India can alter the case for Bangladesh.
Shakib winning the toss on a sluggish wicket correctly decided to field. Bangladesh bowlers positively responded. The wicket was gripping and there was inconsistent bounce. Shakib also handled his bowlers smartly. Dimuth Karunaratne was removed early. Pithun Nassanka and Kusal Mendis were also struggling against consistent pace and accuracy of Taskin, Shoriful and Hasan Mahmood. Both were dropped one behind the wicket and the other by Shamim Patwary near the rope. Riding their luck Lankan pair74 for the second wicket partnership steadied their boat. Shakib kept on shuffling his bowlers. Even the two left hand spinners Shakib himself and Nasum bowled tight. At 5/164 at 38th Over Bangladesh looked like limiting Sri Lanka to a manageable score. But Samrawickrama batting very smartly with the lower order batsmen played the innings of the match. His 93 scored of 72 deliveries with 8 fours and 2 sixes took his team of 257/9 which on the difficult wicket proved more than enough.
Three Bangladesh pacers Hasan Mahmood (3/57), Taskin Ahmed (3/62) and Shoriful Islam (2/58) bowled their hearts out. But Shakib calculated a bit wrong. Neither Shoriful nor Hasan bowled their quota. Off course Shakib and Nasum also bowled tight. 257/9 was a competitive score but was not unassailable if Bangladesh could bat with a plan.
Many will dispute selection of the playing XI. One wondered why experienced Anamul Haq Bijoy was not given an opportunity. What were the reasons for preferring Shamim Patwary over Afif Hossain. Bangladesh gambled again sending Mehedy Miraj with Mohammad Naim for opening the innings and this time also it paid as opening pair put on 55 runs before Mehedy Miraz (28) and Mohammad Naim (21) fell in quick succession to Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka taking up the bowling sensing the sluggishness of the wicket. Bangladesh innings lost the momentum as Shakib (5) and Litton (15) failed to kick on. Towhid Hridoy (82) and Mushfiqur Rahim (29) were carrying the team on their shoulders. But once Mushfique was again removed by Shanaka the late middle order again collapsed.
Shamim failed yet again. Bangladesh late order once again missed a person named Mahmudullah Raid. The continued experiments of team management proved a curse for Bangladesh. The only outstanding performer was Towhid Hridoy. But he is too young to lead his team to victory guiding the toothless late order across the rope. Bangladesh got bundled out for 236 runs in 48.1 overs. Three matches out of four in this Asia Cup Bangladesh failed to bat 50 overs. Bangladesh was just not good enough for advancing to the final. Better team won the match. Team management owes an explanation for playing Shamim Patwary and Mohammad despite of their repeated failures.
Defending Champions do now stand a bright possibility of featuring yet again in the final. The blockbuster match today between India and Pakistan will indicate which another team will proceed to the final. Off course Sri Lanka will have to win against one of the two teams.
BDST: 0924 HRS, SEP 10, 2023
SMS
