Bangladesh launched their Super Four campaign with an impressive win over Sri Lanka, thanks to brilliant bowling from Mustafizur Rahman and Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, followed by superb half-centuries from Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy.
When “Zaker Ali pulled the first ball of the final over to the boundary,” the Bangladeshi supporters erupted with joy. Even the players in the dugout leapt to their feet. The match was virtually over, with the scores tied. But it still wasn’t quite finished! “Within the next three balls, Dasun Shanaka took two wickets, with no run in between.” Shamim Hossain, standing at the non-striker’s end, angrily threw his bat in frustration, raising fears of a potential collapse. Was Bangladesh about to panic?
In the end, there was no more drama. On the fifth ball, Nasum Ahmed nudged the ball and both batters ran for the winning run. Had the fielder hit the stumps directly, it could have been dangerous — but at that point, no one was thinking of risks. Victory celebrations drowned out every worry.
Despite a nervy finish, Bangladesh had already set the stage for a memorable win with their dominant performance in both batting and bowling. Following that script, Liton Kumar Das’s team began their Asia Cup Super Four journey with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
The foundation for the victory was laid by Mustafizur Rahman and Sheikh Mehedi Hasan with their superb bowling. In the chase, Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy guided the team with two stylish fifties. Shanaka’s all-round effort ultimately went in vain.
On Saturday in Dubai, Shanaka’s whirlwind 37-ball 64, featuring six sixes, powered Sri Lanka to 168 in 20 overs. He also grabbed two wickets in the final over with the ball. Yet Bangladesh won with one ball to spare.
Mustafizur was outstanding with the ball, taking three wickets for just 20 runs in four overs. Mehedi chipped in with two wickets for 25.
Chasing 169, Saif Hassan smashed a 45-ball 61 with four sixes. He had faced questions about his T20 batting effectiveness but proved his critics wrong in style. Against his “motherland,” he was named Player of the Match.
Towhid Hridoy, who had also been under scrutiny for his form, lit up the innings with a sparkling 37-ball 58.
It was a record-breaking day too: Mustafizur now shares the top spot with Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker with 149 wickets. Liton moved past Shakib’s 2,551 runs to top Bangladesh’s all-time run charts with 2,556.
Sri Lanka had started well after being put in to bat. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka went after Shoriful Islam, hitting a six and three consecutive fours in his opening overs. Nasum Ahmed was economical early on, conceding just 13 in his first two overs.
Nissanka welcomed Taskin with a six but fell on the last ball of the over for 22. From 44 runs in five overs, Sri Lanka slowed down as Bangladesh tightened the screws. Mehedi dismissed Mendis for 34 after the batter had brought up the team’s fifty with a six.
Kamil Mishara (5 off 11) was bowled trying a reverse lap, while Kusal Perera managed just 16 off 16. Mehedi, returning to the XI, bowled superbly again.
Shanaka, demoted to number five to counter Mehedi’s off-spin, began with a boundary and soon launched Shoriful into the stands. He struck two sixes off Nasum’s last over — one of them a massive 101-metre hit. His partnership with Charith Asalanka produced 57 runs off just 27 balls.
At one stage, it looked like Sri Lanka would cross 175, but Mustafizur controlled the death overs, conceding just 11 runs in his last two overs. Shanaka was dropped at 38 by Shamim, and Hridoy missed Asalanka twice — but redeemed himself with a sharp throw to run out Shanaka (21 off 12).
Shanaka still managed to hit two sixes off Shoriful’s last two deliveries and a four off the first ball of the final over, but then missed four consecutive deliveries before finishing with a last-ball six. It was his first T20 fifty in 21 innings, dating back to January 2023.
Bangladesh’s chase began with an early setback as Tanzid Hasan was bowled by Nuwan Thushara, falling to the slinging pacer for the fourth time in six matches.
Liton Das hit the first boundary, but it was Saif who counter-attacked. He smashed Thushara for a six down the track and followed up with a flick over square leg. He then launched Dunith Wellalage over his head for another six.
Liton provided steady support as the pair added 50 off just 28 balls, with Bangladesh scoring 59 in the Powerplay. Wanindu Hasaranga struck in his first over as Liton (23 off 16) fell to a sweep shot.
Saif and Hridoy added another fifty-run stand. Saif reached his fifty off 36 balls — his previous international fifty had come against Malaysia in the Asian Games. He fell trying to slog Hasaranga.
Hridoy took over, smashing Kamindu Mendis for 16 runs in an over with two fours and a six. Bangladesh’s victory now seemed inevitable.
In the 19th over, Hridoy was trapped LBW by Chameera’s full toss and left the field visibly frustrated. Zaker Ali came in and hit his first ball for four. Bangladesh needed five off the final over. Zaker struck another boundary first ball, but then drama returned.
He was bowled trying to hit Shanaka, Mehedi missed a run on the next ball, and then fell to a short delivery. But no more mistakes followed.
Bangladesh, who had lost to Sri Lanka in the group stage, avenged that defeat to start their Super Four journey.
Match Summary
- Sri Lanka: 168/7 in 20 overs (Nissanka 22, Kusal Mendis 34, Mishara 5, Kusal Perera 16, Shanaka 64*, Asalanka 21, Kamindu Mendis 1, Hasaranga 2, Wellalage 0*; Shoriful 0/49, Nasum 0/36, Taskin 1/37, Mehedi 2/25, Mustafizur 3/20).
- Bangladesh: 169/6 in 19.5 overs (Saif 61, Tanzid 0, Liton 23, Hridoy 58, Shamim 14*, Zaker 9, Mehedi 0, Nasum 1*; Thushara 1/42, Chameera 1/32, Wellalage 0/36, Hasaranga 2/22, Shanaka 2/21, Kamindu Mendis 0/16).
Result: Bangladesh won by 4 wickets.
Player of the Match: Saif Hassan.
