Sabbir, bowlers earn Bangladesh first T20 win against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh bowlers have shone once again on the back of a scintillating knock from Sabbir Rahman to propel the hosts to their first ever Twenty20 win against Sri Lanka, by 23 runs, in the Asia Cup.

Sports Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Feb 2016, 01:13 PM
Updated : 28 Feb 2016, 08:25 PM

Sabbir cracked a dazzling 80 off 54 balls and paired in a fine partnership with Shakib Al Hasan (32) to help the Tigers plot a recovery from an early setback at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

A determined Mahmudullah then played a cameo late in the innings to help Bangladesh post 147 for 7.

Fired up by a roaring home crowd, the bowlers then pulled off another stellar show to restrict Sri Lanka to 124 for 8.

Bangladesh are now second in the points table with two wins in three matches. Sri Lanka suffered their first defeat in two matches to slip to third.

Bangladesh won their last match by 51 runs against the United Arab Emirates, which was preceded by a 45-run defeat against India in the tournament opener.

Sri Lanka had beaten the UAE by 14 runs in their first match.

The islanders were off to a nervy start in their chase as opener Dinesh Chandimal survived in the second ball when Soumya Sarkar fluffed a regulation catch at second slip off Taskin Ahmed.

In the next over, bowled by Al-Amin Hossain, Mahmudullah dropped a tough chance at the same position off Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Shakib struck with his first ball to take out Dilshan (12) as Soumya made amends by holding on to a splendid catch running several yards down the ground.

Shehan Jayasuriya (26) then released the pressure with a six off Al-Amin. Chandimal took the initiative by cracking a couple of boundaries and chipping in with quick ones and twos to ride his luck to run-a-ball 37.

The duo threatened with a 56-run partnership but it was just too short-lived to take their side over the line. Bangladesh dried up the boundaries after the powerplay.

With the required run rate climbing, Chandimal holed out at deep point trying a reverse sweep off Mahmudullah. Wily Shakib had Jayasuriya stumped as Sri Lanka lost two wickets in the space of three balls.

In the next over, Bangladesh missed an opportunity to corner Sri Lanka when Taskin dropped Angelo Mathews on nought off Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

Having kept three Mustafizur Rahman overs in reserve, Mashrafe brought him back to roll his wrists to frugal figures of 1/19.

The left-arm seamer sent Thisara Perera (4) packing before the skipper himself removed Milinda Siriwardana (3) which turned the tide of the match in Bangladesh's favour. By then, Sri Lanka were wobbling on 92 for 5.

They lost the plot after reaching 100 as Al-Amin bagged three wickets, two in the last over to quicken the historic win.

Shakib bagged two wickets for the hosts while Mashrafe also chipped in with one.

Electing to bat first, Bangladesh were off to a disastrous start when Mohammad Mithun was trapped in front by Mathews in the second ball.

Soumya compounded their woes as he went back for a duck off Nuwan Kulasekara in the next over.

Sabbir came in and hammered three boundaries and a six off Kulasekara's second over but Mushfiqur Rahim (4) ran himselt out to leave his team totterring on 26 for 3.

But Sabbir, adjudged Man-of-the-Match, showed his class with three consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket.

He studded his innings with 10 boundaries and three sixes while Shakib dug deep at the other end. The duo put on 82 for the fourth wicket, taking Bangladesh past 100 in the 16th over.

Sabbir reached his third T20 International fifty off 38 balls bludgeoning a six off Jayasuriya, which popped out of the fielder's hands and went over the ropes at deep midwicket.

After launching Dushmantha Chameera for another six in the previous ball, Sabbir holed out at deep midwicket.

Shakib walked back soon after but Mahmudullah (23 not out) made sure the bowlers have a decent total to defend.

Chameera picked up three wickets for Sri Lanka.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh: 147/7 in 20 overs (Mithun 0 , Soumya 0, Sabbir 80, Mushfiq 4, Shakib 32, Mahmudullah 23*, Nurul 2, Mashrafe 2; Chameera 3/30, Mathews 1/8, Kulasekara 1/44)

Sri Lanka: 124/8 in 20 overs (Chandimal 37, Dilshan 12, Jayasuriya 26, Mathews 12, Thisara 4, Siriwardana 3, Shanaka 14, Kapugedara 12*, Kulasekara 0, Chameera 1*; Al-Amin 3/34, Shakib 2/21, Mahmudullah 1/14, Mashrafe 1/17, Mustafizur 1/18)

Man-of-the-Match: Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh)

Points Table:

Team

Match

Win

Loss

Points

NRR

India

2

2

0

4

+1.970

Bangladesh

3

2

1

4

+0.483

Sri Lanka

2

1

1

2

-0.225

Pakistan

1

0

1

0

-1.334

UAE

2

0

2

0

-1.625