SL slander Bangladesh, book final berth
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh got a reality check ahead of the final as they were dismissed for 82 against a spirited Sri Lanka to taste a humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the last match of the tri-nation one-day tournaments league phase yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. It was the first time inside three and half years that Bangladesh were wrapped up below 100 runs, having been bowled out for 70 against West Indies in 2014. Sri Lanka raced to the victory in just 11.5 overs, without losing any wicket and joined South Africa to hand Bangladesh 10-wicket defeat for the third time.
Sri Lanka who were in danger of losing the final spot to Zimbabwe in case of a defeat, finally joined Bangladesh on Saturdays final, claiming the victory with a bonus point. Bangladesh had already confirmed the final with three straight victories and went to the match with an aim to maintain the winning-streak.
In those three matches, Bangladeshs victory were scripted by their two stalwartsTamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Both of them had rare failure on the ill-fated day but no one could turn up in absence of them, at thing that should be corrected if Bangladesh want to win elusive trophy for the first time in any kind of tournament, apart from bilateral series. Without Shakib and Tamims batting, Bangladeshs middle order proved to be vulnerable for the consecutive second time in the tournament.
However Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal ran through
Bangladeshi innings, grabbing three for 21 after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza opted to bat first in a wicket what proved to be two-paced finally.
His fellow pacers Dushmantha Chameera (two for six), Thisara Perera (two for 27) and left arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan (two 24) all played their part perfectly.
Openers Upul Tharanga was not out on 39 while Danushka Gunathilaka was on 35 as Sri Lanka raced to the victory with 229 balls to spare. In terms of balls remaining, it was Bangladesh second biggest defeat.
Lakmal left them in precarious situation, moving the ball admirably in both ways. He claimed the big wicket of in form Tamim Iqbal (5) who came to the match with three straight half-centuries before he dismissed struggling Anamul Haque (0). In between another inform batsman Shakib Al Hasan was run out on 8, leaving Bangladesh 16-3.
Mushfiqur Rahim held the one end but Sri Lanka bowlers continued making inroads with well-directed short balls to which Bangladeshi batsmen had no answer. Rahim and Sabbir Rahman (10) were the two to reach double digit figure with the former making the highest 26.
On a pitch where Bangladeshi batsmen struggled, Sri Lankan openers were fluent and kept Bangladeshi bowlers frustrated. Gunathilaka who replaced injured Kusal Perera hit three fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball-35 while Tharanga struck three sixes and one fours in 37 ball-39.
The final between the two sides is on Saturday.
SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim c Gunathilaka b Lakmal 5
Anamul b Lakmal 0
Shakib run out Gunathilaka 8
Mushfiqur c Mendis b Chameera 26
M Riyad c Chameera b Lakmal 7
Sabbir c sub b Perera 10
Abul Hasan c Dickwella b Perera 7
Nasir c Dickwella b Chameera 3
Mashrafe b Sandakan 1
Rubel c Tharanga b Sandakan 0
Mustafizur not out 1
Extras (lb4, w10) 14
Total (24 overs) 82
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-15, 3-16, 4-34, 5-57, 6-71, 7-79, 8-80, 9-81, 10-82.
BOWLING O M R W
S Lakmal 7 1 21 3
D Chameera 5 1 6 2
T Perera 6 0 27 2
L Sandakan 6 0 24 2
Sri Lanka innings:
D Gunathilaka not out 35
U Tharanga not out 39
Extras (w8, nb1) 9
Total (no wicket; 11.5 overs) 83
BOWLING O M R W
Mashrafe 2 0 15 0
Abul 4 0 25 0
Nasir 3 0 19 0
Mustafizur 1.5 0 14 0
Shakib 1 0 10 0
