Former champs Sri Lanka made it through to the Super Four of the Asia Cup 2022 cricket tournament following a thrilling two-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a must-win Group B match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on September 1.
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Sri Lanka and Afghanistan qualified for the Super Four from Group B, while Bangladesh made their exit after losing both their matches. In Group A, India have qualified to the Super Four. The match between Pakistan and Hong Kong will decide who advances.
Chasing 184 for a win, Sri Lanka began well, scoring 48 runs in the powerplay. But wickets started falling and they were 77/4 by the ninth over.
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But, a solid knock by Kusal Mendis (60 off 37 balls) kept the Islanders in the game. After Mendis was dismissed, skipper Dasun Shanaka kept the momentum going and took Sri Lanka close to victory with a crucial knock of 45 off 33 balls before getting out in the 18th over.
Left at 158/7 by the 18th over, Sri Lanka looked to be in trouble bur a crucial knock of 16 off 10 balls by Chamika Karunaratne gave them hope. However, a suicidal run cost Karunaratne his wicket in the fifth ball of the 19th over.
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But it was the penultimate over that proved productive for Sri Lanka, as they scored 17 runs off Ebadot Hossain’s over to bring them back into the match.
Sri Lanka required 8 runs in the last over. Theekshana stole a single in the first ball of the final over before debutant Asitha Fernando (10 not out off 3 balls) smashed a boundary which was followed by two runs off the next ball.
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Sri Lanka needed only 1 run from 3 balls but the on-field umpire was informed that Mahedi had overstepped, handing the island nation a thrilling two-wicket win with two wickets and four balls to spare. It was the highest-ever successful run chase in the UAE in T20Is, overshadowing Afghanistan’s chase of 180 against the UAE back in 2016.
Earlier, Bangladesh score a threatening total of 183/7 in 20 overs thanks to knocks by Mehidy Hasan Miraz (38 off 26) who opened the innings. But Sri Lanka picked up wickets at regular intervals during the middle overs.
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Afif Hossain took the game by the scruff of the neck and smashed a 22-ball 39. He put up a 57-run stand off 37 balls for the fifth wicket before being dismissed in the 17th over.
Mosaddek Hossain (24 not out off 9) and Taskin Ahmed (11 off 6) smashed 24 runs off only 11 balls for the eighth wicket to allow Bangladesh to reach a respectable 183-7. Sri Lanka’s Chamika Karunaratne took 2/32, while Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva finished with figures of 2/41.
