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Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten 37-ball 57 had spurred Bangladesh on to a daunting 171 in the first innings
Sri Lanka 172 for 5 (Asalanka 80*, Rajapaksa 53, Shakib 2-17) beat Bangladesh 171 for 4 (Naim 62, Mushfiqur 57*) by five wickets
For once, it was Sri Lanka’s batters who bailed their bowlers out. It wasn’t the experienced hands either. Here was Sri Lanka’s new generation standing up. Chasing 172, on an asymmetric ground (there was a 73-metre boundary on one side, and a 57-metre one on the other), Charith Asalanka produced the innings of the game, hitting 80 not out off 49 balls, from Sri Lanka’s troubled No. 3 position. Along the way, he had the company of Pathum Nissanka, with whom he put up a stand worth 69 off 45, before Bhanuka Rajapaksa came in at No. 6 and struck 53 off 31 himself, effectively helping secure the game.
This, to trump an outstanding 57 not out off 37 from Mushfiqur Rahim, and a solid 62 off 52 from Mohammad Naim. They played Sri Lanka’s top wicket-takers incredibly well. Neither Dushmantha Chameera nor Wanindu Hasaranga took a wicket, and both went at more than 9.5 an over.
Bangladesh, perhaps, were guilty of keeping too many overs from their two best bowlers – Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman – in reserve. By the time Shakib came in to bowl his third over in the 17th, Sri Lanka were fully in control of the chase.
More to follow…
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf
This article was originally published by Espncricinfo.com. Read the original article here.