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Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by five wickets in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a massive target of 172, Sri Lanka had a terrible start as they lost their opening batter Kusal Perera on the fourth delivery of the first over.
Then, Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka took charge and formed a much-needed partnership for the second wicket. The pair went on to add 69 runs before Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan brought back his team in the game.
Shakib cleaned up Nissanka for 24, followed by Avishka Fernando for a duck in the ninth over to reduce Sri Lanka at 71/3. Just eight runs later, Mohammad Saifuddin joined Shakib in the party and removed Wanindu Hasaranga (6).
It appeared that Bangladesh would capitalise from here, but another twist was waiting to greet them as Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa combined to put together a game-changing partnership. The duo put together a vital stand of 86 runs for the fifth wicket before Nasum Ahmed dismissed Rajapaksa for a well-made 53 off 31 balls. But the damage was done as Sri Lanka chased down the target in 18.5 overs wi𝓡th five wickets in hand. Asalanka stayed unbeaten on 80 off 49 balls.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 171/4 in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of brilliant knocks by opener Mohammad Naim and senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim.
The pair joined each other in the eighth over when Bangladesh were struggling at 56/2. Naim and Rahim stitched a crucial 73-run partnership to put their s🌌ide in a commendable position.
Naim smashed 🌜six boundaries in his 52-ball 62-run knock, while Rahim remained unbe✃aten on 57 from 37 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.
Lahiru Kumara (1/29), Binura Fernando (1/27) and Chamika Karunaratne (1/12) picked up one wicket apiece.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
A fine cha🐟se by Sri L🌠anka! Asalanka and Rajapaksa what a show!
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB)
Congratulations 🇱🇰!
Brilliant 🐬innings by Bha🌼nuka Rajapaksha and Charith Asalanka— Thisara perera (@PereraThisara)
Brilliant display of power hitting by the birthday boy ! What a way to celebrate h🦩is birthday! Well done๊ and warm wishes for a blessed birthday.
Congratulations to team o🌊n the victory; in particularly was magnificent!
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal)
What a✃n incredible partnership𓄧 from and Congratulations for the victory..
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
Great chase by . Very happy to see Charith Asalanka bat the way he batted with the experienced B'day Boy Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Mahmudullah would be thinking did he bring in Fizz a little too late and those dropped catches will really hurt
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
This is incredible from Sri Lanka – helped with some costly drops but these two have played a blinder.
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
I remember Asalankꩵa and his burgeoning potential in the 2016 U19 WC. Good to see him coming through.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12)
Charith Asalanka won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant 80* runs with 5 sixes.
Congratulations !— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet)
: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets.
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel)
Fantastic win for Sri Lanka. Scorecard:
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
S🍌ri Lanka continue their brilliant form at the 2021 💪 |
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup)
//twit��ter.com/benjonescricওket/status/1452268101660286984
The chase was seemingly defined by match-ups with a pair of LHs dissuading from bowling Shakib until it was too late but that choice actually shows the importance of using data wisely. Shakib is an SLA but he averages 18 v LHs &🐷amp; 25 v RHs since the last WC.
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket)
