Bangladesh continue their rise in CWC Super League table

Scorecard

The victory means now Bangladesh have 40 points in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League standings and have jumped to the fourth spot.

Despite a late assault led by Wanindu Hasaranga, the hosts held strong with a sensational bowling display by Mehidy Hasan (4/30) and Mustafizur Rehman (3/34) to bundle out the visitors out for 224 after putting up a par total of 257/6 on the back of Rahim’s majestic 84, and fifties by Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah.

Bangladesh opted to bat first but were rocked early in their innings with Dushmantha Chameera picking up the wicket of Liton Das for naught in his first over. Shakib Al Hasan, who was on a comeback, failed to capitalise on the start he conservatively created for himself and was dismissed for 15. The stability to the innings was brought by a 56-run partnership between Tamim and Rahim.

The duo upped the ante and scored at a healthy run rate of 5.17 after Bangladesh’s prudent powerplay score of 40/1. Sri Lanka then employed Dhananjaya de Silva who proved to be a kingpin in turning the game in their favour.

Dhananjaya dismissed the settled Tamim, who smashed his 51st ODI half-century and Mohammad Mithun for naught by trapping them leg-before on consecutive deliveries.

Mushfiqur countered the barrage from Sri Lanka by dissecting the gaps and consistent strike rotation. He brought up his half-century in 52 deliveries and went on to convert the score to a classy 87-ball 84 in partnership with Mahmudullah, who played a salient knock of 54 in 76 in a 109-run fifth-wicket stand.

The visitors pulled back with the wickets of Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah in the death overs with Dhananjaya bowling a golden spell of 3/45. Afif Hossain’s quick-fire 27* (22) propelled Bangladesh to a first-innings total of 257/6.

In response, Sri Lanka were confounded by a sublime display of spin bowling by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib.

The visitors stuttered late in the powerplay with the loss of Danushka Gunathilaka (21) and Pathum Nissanka (8) as they managed 49/2 on the scoreboard.

A third-wicket partnership of 41 between Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis indicated resilience but Mendis perished subsequently to Shakib. Sri Lanka imploded slipping from 82/2 to 102/6 in the span of 9.3 overs as the middle order dissipated.

Hasaranga then led the revolt. Alongwith Dasun Shanaka (14) he added 47 runs for the seventh-wicket in 40 deliveries. He then combined forces with Isuru Udana to add 62 runs.

Just as the partnership between the two looked to fuel the flame of victory, Mohammad Saifuddin and Mustafizur snared the wickets of Hasaranga (74) and Udana (21) respectively.

It did not take long after that for the hosts to wrap of the Sri Lankan innings for 224; registering a comprehensive 33-run victory.