Sri Lanka Knockout Bangladesh in an Exciting Finish | Asia Cup 2022:
Powerful innings from Kusal Mendis and skipper Dasun Shanaka helped Sri Lanka to beat Bangladesh by two wickets to advance to the Asia Cup Super Four stage on Thursday.
Sri Lanka chased 184 in a winner-takes-all game in Dubai, relying on a crucial 54-run stand between Mendis (60) and Shanaka (45) before the tail helped them reach their goal with four balls to spare.
Mendis went out after a 37-ball inning, and Shanaka was out in the 18th over.
But Chamika Karunaratne’s 10-ball 16 and Asitha Fernando’s unbeaten 10 kept their cool to knock Bangladesh out of the event.
Fernando smashed a four and then grabbed two runs off a no-ball in the last over, sparking cheers in the Sri Lankan camp.
Ebadot Hossain of Bangladesh took three wickets but gave up 51 runs in four overs.
Ebadot struck in his first over, dismissing Pathum Nissanka for 20, then three balls later dismissed Charith Asalanka for one.
Mendis, who was dropped on two by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, was given caught behind on 29 but the delivery from off-spinner Mahedi Hasan turned out to be a no ball.
With the dismissal of the big-hitting Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka fell to 67-3 and then 77-4 after Eabadot removed Danushka Gunathilaka.
Mendis was then joined by Shanaka as the two re-started the chase and quickly took the attack to the opposition bowlers.
Shanaka thrashed Ebadot for 22 runs in the 13th over, while Mendis completed his fifty in 31 balls.
Earlier, Bangladesh produced 183-7 after a 57-run fifth-wicket stand between Afif Hossain (39) and Mahmudullah Riyad (27).
Mosaddek Hossain contributed a solid 24 not out from nine balls to complete the innings on a high note.
Sri Lanka got regular wickets, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Karunaratne each taking two, to enable the island nation to advance from Group B alongside Afghanistan to the next level.
The winner of Friday’s Group A encounter between Pakistan and Hong Kong will join India in the Super Four.
On Saturday, Sri Lanka will meet Afghanistan in the first Super Four match in Sharjah.
