Sabbir Hossain :The Tigers defeated Sri Lanka by 23 runs in their crucial match of the Asia Cup Twenty20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.Electing to bat first, Bangladesh made a fighting total of 147 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted the Lions to 124 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. Bangladesh had a shaky start as the hosts lost their early three wickets for 26 runs.Then Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan rescued their team from debacle contributing together 82 runs for the fourth wicket stand before Sabbir Rahman was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Shehan Jayasuriya off PV Chameera when Bangladesh’s total was 108 for the loss of four wickets.Sabbir Rahman cracked a stormy 80. He hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 54-ball knock. Sabbir Rahman fulfilled his third Twenty20 half century playing 38 deliveries.Shakib Al Hasan hit a polished 32 from 34 balls featuring three fours before he was caught by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal off PV Chameera when Bangladesh’s score was 123 for the loss of five wickets.Mahmudullah Riyad remained unbeaten with 23. He hit two fours and a sixer in his 12-ball innings.Pacer PV Chameera grabbed three wickets instead of 30 runs while Angelo Mathews and Nuwan Kulasekara took one wicket each for eight and 44 runs respectively.Sri Lanka made an unsteady start losing their opener TM Dilshan (12) when the islanders’ total was 20.Later, Dinesh Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya repaired the damage adding together 56 runs before Chandimal was caught at the point by Taskin Ahmed off Mahmudullah Riyad when Sri Lanka’s score was 76 for the loss of two wickets.After dismissal of Chandimal, Jayasuriya could stay at the crease for a short period as he was stumped out by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan off Shakib Al Hasan when Sri Lanka’s total was 78 for the loss of three wickets.Then new sensation Mustafizur Rahman struck as Thisara Perera (4) was trapped leg before wicket by the ‘Wonder Boy’ when Sri Lanka’s score was 85 for the loss of four wickets.Fourth-down TA Siriwardana (3) was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Sabbir Rahman off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Sri Lanka’s total was 92 for the loss of five wickets.Second-Down Angelo Mathews (12) was caught at the point by Shakib Al Hasan off Al-Amin Hossain when Sri Lanka’s score was 102 for the loss of six wickets.Dinesh Chandimal hit a run-a-ball 37 including four fours while Jayasuriya made 26 from 21 balls featuring two sixes and a four.
