Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka upset Bangladesh in nail-biting thriller to seal Super Four spot

By winning the contest, Sri Lanka joined Afghanistan and India in the Super Four stage.

By Vaishnavi Thiagarajan Iyer

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Sri Lanka Team
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Sri Lanka Team (Photo Source: Twitter)

It was a crucial game for both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as they needed a win to survive in the tournament. The two teams made it look as intense as it could become, and both sides put their A-game on display. But there had to be just one winner in the contest. It was Sri Lanka that emerged victorious by just two wickets and made their way into the Super Four joining Afghanistan and India.

Sri Lanka won the toss and put Bangladesh to bat first. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sabbir opened the innings for their side but their start wasn’t up to the mark as the latter walked off in the third over and Sri Lanka rejoiced after getting the first breakthrough. But all their celebrations vanished quickly when Miraz got his bat talking, and Shakib Al Hasan joined him in the fireworks.

Miraz’s show came to an end when Wanindu Hasaranga claimed his wicket just after the powerplay. Mushfiqur Rahim followed him soon after, losing his wicket scoring just four runs off the five deliveries faced. Every Sri Lanka bowler got at least one wicket during their spell, but Bangladesh’s middle-order batters stole the show.

Contributions by Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, and a cameo by Taskin Ahmed helped Bangladesh end the innings comfortably. Afif Hossain’s 22-ball 39 set the tone for Bangladesh, and Mosaddek Hossain powered the innings with his quick-fire unbeaten 24-run knock off nine balls. A comprehensive effort came to an end as Bangladesh ended up scoring their highest score in the UAE, taking the tally to 183/7.

Sri Lanka win a final-over thriller to knock Bangladesh out of Asia Cup 2022

Sri Lanka’s chase was slow as Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis took time to settle down, but the two then notched up some quick boundaries and compensated for the sluggish start. Bangladesh got the breakthrough in the final over of the powerplay when Ebadot Hossain dismissed Nissanka and the next batter Charith Asalanka.

Mendis survived a scare when the delivery of his wicket turned out to be a no-ball and he got a reprieve. Mendis’ luck was very much supportive of him today, as he survived yet another dismissal in the eighth over when the wicketkeeper caught the ball after an edge, but the on-field umpire was unmoved. While Mendis kept getting extra lives, Bangladesh bowlers kept breaking the momentum and restricted a partnership from being formed.

Rising above all the scares and utilizing the extra chances in the best way possible, Mendis bagged a composed half-century after Dasun Shanaka joined him in the power-hitting, and the duo piled up runs massively. Just when it looked like the game had slipped out of Bangladesh’s hands, the bowlers picked up the crucial wickets of Mendis and Hasaranga.

Skipper Shanaka’s dismissal made the situation even tenser for Sri Lanka. It was a cliffhanger, and no one could predict the winner of the game. It came down to the final over, when Sri Lanka needed to chase eight runs off the final six deliveries. The lower-order batters maintained their nerves and finished off the chase brilliantly as Bangladesh’s mistakes proved costly for them and the Lankans made it to the Super Four.

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Asia Cup 2023BangladeshSri Lanka