Sri Lanka suffered a heavy blow in their hopes of qualifying for the Super 8 stages after they were handed a second loss in two games in the T20 World Cup. Defending just 124, Nuwan Thushara kept Sri Lanka in the hunt right until the end with a four-fer but Bangladesh managed to sneak through for a two-wicket win with just one over remaining.
Where was the game won?
At the death. After 14 overs, Sri Lanka were well placed at 100/3. Even though the surface wasn’t a placid one, Sri Lanka would have still hoped to post at least 150 on the board with seven wickets in hand. However, a double-wicket over from Rishad turned things around as the 2014 champions crumbled to add only 24 more runs in the final six overs.
Sri Lanka
Powerplay: The only phase dominated by Sri Lanka
Phase Score: 53/2 (RR: 8.83, 4s/6s: 9/1)
This was Sri Lanka’s most productive phase in the entire game. This should have set the tone for a substantial fighting total. Even though they lost Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis in the powerplay, Pathum Nissanka kept Sri Lanka going with a flurry of boundaries. The highlight was Nissanka taking apart Shakib Al Hasan for four boundaries in a single over.
Middle overs: Bangladesh fight back
Phase Score: 50/2 (RR: 5.55, 4s/6s: 3/1)
As long as Nissanka was batting out in the middle, Sri Lanka were in a very good position. The opener ensured the boundaries kept coming post the powerplay too. However, he tried to play one shot too many as Mustafizur got rid of him with a slower delivery. That wicket changed the complexion of the game as Bangladesh fought back strong. The boundaries dried up and the run rate in this phase didn’t even go past six. To make matters worse, they lost two crucial wickets in that 15th over as Rishad Hossain was rewarded for some outstanding bowling. The legspinner got the big wicket of Charith Asalanka and the decision to keep a slip fielder worked too as Wanindu Hasaranga edged one to the fielder first ball.
Death overs: The Lankan collapse
Phase Score: 21/4 (RR: 4.1, 4s/6s: 1/0)
Those numbers above tell the whole story. Only one boundary was hit at the death. And even that boundary came courtesy of a misfield. That’s how poor Sri Lanka were at the back end of their innings. Rishad continued to impress and got Dhananjaya de Silva stumped and Taskin Ahmed ensured Dasun Shanaka didn’t tee off. Angelo Mathews couldn’t fire as well at the death as Sri Lanka ended up with just 124 on the board.
Bangladesh
Powerplay: Top order woes continue for Bangladesh
Phase Score: 34/3 (RR: 5.66, 4s/6s: 2/0)
Coming into the contest, the focus from a Bangladesh perspective was their top order. And they failed to fire yet again. Soumya Sarkar was dismissed for a duck in the first over and Nuwan Thushara got one full delivery to swing back in beautifully to castle Tanzid Hasan. The first boundary of the innings came off the 30th delivery and that was off a top edge. The under-pressure Litton Das managed to evade through this phase but Thushara managed to get rid of Najmul Shanto as well to leave Bangladesh reeling at 34/3.
Middle overs: The game changing cameo
Phase Score: 66/2 (RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 1/5)
In a low-scoring game, all it takes is a few big hits for the pendulum to swing. In the larger of scheme of things, it’s safe to say that Towhid Hridoy’s cameo proved to be the difference maker. After smashing Hasaranga for a six initially, Hridoy saw Litton rock back and pull Matheesha Pathirana for a big one as well as Bangladesh grew in confidence. Sri Lanka were then dented heavily by Hridoy’s onslaught against Hasaranga as he slammed the leggie for three successive sixes. The skipper then managed to trap him lbw but by then, Bangladesh needed only 34 off 50 balls. Hasaranga though gave his side a glimmer of a hope by also trapping Litton lbw in the 15th over, which meant that Sri Lanka were banking on a similar collapse to the one they had.
Death overs: Close but no cigar for Sri Lanka
Phase Score: 25/3 (RR: 6.25, 4s/6s: 0/1)
Bangladesh almost made a mess of it. That wicket of Litton did rattle them especially with Shakib also departing early following a fine catch from Maheesh Theekshana. That was then followed by a stunning over from Thushara that saw him pick two wickets to stun the Bangladesh dugout. Rishad, the hero with the ball in the first innings, wasn’t smart enough at that point. With the required run rate not high and Sri Lanka having to rely on Shanaka and Mathews for the final two overs, all he had to do was knock the ball around and get through Thushara’s final over. Instead, he went for the glory shot and almost cost his side before Shanaka himself came up with a full toss which was put away for a six by Mahmudullah. That six eased the nerves as Bangladesh eventually romped home.
Brief scores:Sri Lanka 124/9 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 47; Mustafizur Rahman 3/17) lost to Bangladesh 125/8 in 19 overs (Towhid Hridoy 40, Litton Das 36; Nuwan Thushara 4/18) by 2 wickets
What’s next?
Sri Lanka will hope to finally fetch a win in the tournament when they take on Nepal after four days. Their qualification hopes have taken a hit following this loss which has come on the back of that heavy defeat to South Africa. They would now hope for a similar defeat for Bangladesh at the hands of the same opponent in their next game on Monday.
