Bangladesh held their nerves to pull off a two-wicket win in a thriller against arch-rivals Sri Lanka at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas in a Group D match of the men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on Friday, June 7. Bangladesh successfully chased down a paltry target of 125, but only after surviving a scare. Senior batter Mahamadullah showed nerves of steel as he arrested a slide and took Bangladesh past the finish line for a win in their first game of the tournament.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka have lost two in two and are reeling at the bottom of the Group D points table. Wanindu Hasaranga’s men lost their tournament opener to South Africa in which they were shot out for just 77. Sri Lanka came up with a better batting show, but it was not enough to stop Bangladesh from winning the entertaining encounter.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, pacer Mustafizur Rahman and young Towhid Hridoy, who hit 40 off 20 balls, proved to the heroes for Bangladesh in their win. It was a crucial boost in confidence for Bangladesh as Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men had been woeful in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, losing a T20I series to the USA last month.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka suffered a massive collapse, losing their last 7 wickets for just 54 runs in 11.1 overs. Experienced Sri Lanka batters threw it away in a disappointing effort.
Bangladesh were clinical with the ball, led by their senior pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was fresh from picking a six-wicket haul against USA. The Chennai Super Kings pacer picked 3 wickets and gave away just 17 runs in his 4-over spell.
Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain picked three wickets in a miserly spell of 22 runs in four overs. The leg-spinner dismantled the middle-order, picking up the wickets of Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka and captain Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinner bowled with incredible control at the Grand Prairie Stadium pitch, which had something for everyone, including the spinners.
Sri Lanka, who were shot out for just 77 in their first match against Souuth Africa in New York, came up with an improved batting show, at least in the first 10 overs of their game against Sri Lanka on Friday.
Pathum Nissanka took on the responsibility of doing well in the powerplay, hitting a six and 7 boundaries for his 28-ball 47. He lost his opening partner Kusal Mendis as early as the third over of the contest, but Nissanka kept pushing the score in the powerplay.
Kamindu Mendis, who walked in at No. 3, did not get a lot of strike in the powerplay and the left-hander fell in the first over of Mustafizur Rahman.
Pathum Nissanka’s wicket was the turning point for Bangladesh as Mustafizur worked his magic again.
Rishad Hossain kept a tight leash on things in the middle overs on a day when senior spinner Shakib Al Hasan conceded 30 runs in 3 overs. The 15th over in which he picked the wickets of Asalaka and Hasaranga dented Sri Lanka’s innings further.
Senior campaigners Angelo Mathews (16) and Dasun Shanaka (3) disappointed yet again as Sri Lanka slipped to their second successive loss.
