Sri Lanka defeat Bangladesh to qualify for Super 4s

Kusal Mendis starred with the bat Chamika Karunaratne starred with the ball as Sri Lanka comfortably defeated Bangladesh in the 5th match of the ongoing Asia Cup. With all those wars of words just ahead of the clash, Sri Lanka finally get to do the Nagin dance at the end of this match!

Image Credits: The Indian Express

Toss Update: Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first.

After being sent into bat first, Bangladesh scored 183 on the board losing 7 wickets in 20 overs. The gamble of opening their innings with Mehidy Hasan Miraz worked as the bowling all-rounder scored 38 runs off just 26 deliveries with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Seems like they have finally realized that they cannot open with Naim with his strike rate of just over 100 in over 35 T20I games!

Afif Hossain (39 off 22) and Mosaddek Hossain (24 off 9) applied the finishing touches as Bangladesh managed to post a 180+ total on the board! Chamika Karunaratne and Wanindu Hasaranga registered 2-wicket hauls each!

Sri Lanka, chasing 184 runs to win, got over the line losing 8 wickets and 4 balls to spare in their innings. Kusal Mendis who was given 4 chances top scored for them with 60 runs off just 37 deliveries! Dasun Shanaka (45 off 33) played a captain's knock as he took them closer to target after the fall of Mendis!

Chamika Karunaratne (16 off 10) and Asitha Fernando (10* off 3) made invaluable contributions when they needed 25 runs from the last 2 overs! Eventually, Sri Lanka chased down the target with 4 balls to spare and 8 wickets in hand to do the Nagin dance!

Match result: Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by a margin of 2 wickets.

Kusal Mendis has been adjudged as the Player of the Match for his crucial contribution of 60 runs off 37 deliveries with 4 fours and 3 sixes. With this morale-boosting victory, Sri Lanka are through to the Super 4s while Bangladesh are eliminated!

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka: 184-8 in 19.2 overs (Kusal Mendis - 60, Ebadot Hossain 3-51) defeated Bangladesh: 183-7 in 20 overs (Afif Hossain - 39, Chamika Karunaratne - 2-32) by a margin of 2 wickets