Bangladeshi tigers ramped on the Lankan Lions to their target with 4 wickets in hand and 58 balls to spare. After winning the toss for the third consecutive time, the Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis decided to set the target. However, for the openers from the visiting side, Bangladeshi pacers weren’t less than a nightmare. Taskin single-handedly got rid of both Pathum Nissanka (lbw) and Avishka Fernando (caught behind). Afterwards, skipper Kusal and Sadeera were trying to rebuild the innings though Mustafiz showed Sadeera Samarawickrama the way to the pavilion through another incident of caught behind. The woe for Lankans continued as the skipper himself left the crease by giving Mushfiqur another chance to dismiss another batter while young leg-spinner Rishad got the taste of his first ODI wicket.
Charith Asalanka and young-ace Janith Liyalage were looking good although Asalanka also departed in the same way – Mushfiqur took the catch while Mustafiz was the bowler. Other players also failed to reach the 20s except for Janith Liyalage who scored his first ODI ton in just 6 innings. While he spent 102 balls his innings were shaded with 2 sixes and 11 fours. This young sensation remained not out after his team got packed in 50 overs.
However, due to searing heat and humid conditions, 3 Bangladeshi fielders were injured. At first, Mustafiz got hurt while bowling the first ball of his last over. Soumya later fulfilled that over before getting hurt in his neck while chasing the ball in the very next over. Jaker Ali, a substitute fielder got hurt by crushing with his own teammate. Both Jaker and Musta were taken by stretchers.
Chasing down the target, Bangladeshi openers gave the team a flying start. Tanzid Tamim was brought as a concussion player in lieu of Soumya and took the chance very well. Anamul was caught behind after his team touched 50 runs without any loss. Lahiru Kumar was the first striker who suffered the host side later as well. Skipper Shanto (1 off 5), Tawhid (22 off 36) and Mahmudullah (1 off 4) – all of them were the victims of the Lankan Pacer. On the other hand, Tamim played a master stroke of 84 with a 103.70 strike rate which gave Bangladesh a good basement to chase down the mediocre target.
After Tamim’s fall, Mushfiq and Miraz built a 48-runs partnership on the sixth wicket which elevated the pressure for the host side. Miraz became the second victim of the Lankan skipper who also removed Tamim. But before leaving the crease, Miraz ensured Bangladesh wasn’t far away from their victory with his 25-runs innings. Subsequently, Rishad came as the 7th batter and hammered the visiting side with his unbeaten 48 runs innings while he spent merely 18 balls! Rishad’s impeccable innings was also studded with 4 sixes and 5 fours. On the other hand, Mushfiqur remained not out on 37 after facing 36 balls.
