Dubai: Mushfiqur Rahim’s (144, 150b, 11×4, 4×6) superb hundred complemented by a collective effort from the bowlers saw Bangladesh thrash Sri Lanka by 137 runs despite Lasith Malinga’s brilliant international comeback in the Asia Cup opener here Saturday.
Bangladesh scored 261 all out in 49.3 overs after opting to bat. Their bowlers aided by some inept Sri Lankan batting restricted the opposition to 124 all out 35.2 overs.
Chasing 262 for a win, Sri Lanka suffered a batting collapse with none of their batsmen showing intent to stay at the crease as they were all out for 124 in 35.2 overs. This was Sri Lanka’s lowest ODI total versus Bangladesh.
There was no rotation of strike and no partnership worth the name. The highest partnership for Sri Lanka was the 27 for the eighth wicket.
Sri Lanka showed the intent of a strong start as opener Upul Tharanga (27) struck a six and three fours in the first two overs but he and his partner Kusal Mendis (0) perished in quick succession.
Mendis was the first to go in the final delivery of the second over bowled by Mustafizur Rahman while Tharanga departed the next over off Mashrafe Mortaza to leave Sri Lanka at 28 for two in the third over.
Sri Lanka needed a top order batsman to stick around but one down Dhananjaya de Silva (0) was not able to do that as he was trapped LBW off Mortaza as the ball nipped back in from off-stump. Sri Lanka were 32 for 3 then.
The next four overs gave just four runs as Sri Lanka went into a shell but Bangladesh still found a way out to get a wicket as Mehidy Hasan sent Kusal Perera (11) back in the hut.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (16) and Dasun Shanaka (seven) trying to settle down and stitch a partnership, but just as it seemed they were on course for that they lost the latter due to a run out. Mathews made an error of judgement as he first called and then sent Shanaka back after working the ball to the leg side off a Shakib Al Hasan delivery.
But Shanaka had already made more than half the pitch and not in a position to return when Mehidy Hasan broke down the stumps.
Mathews himself did not survive for long as he perished in the next over, leg before to Rubel Hossain to virtually end the run chase.
All the six Bangladesh bowlers got at least a wicket. Mortaza, Rahman and Hasan picked two wickets each while Shakib, Rubal and Mosaddek Hossain took one each.
Earlier Malinga, whose last ODI was against India in a home series in September 2017, took 4/23 on his return to the international arena. But that was to no avail.
