The all-important Group B clash between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2022 got underway on Thursday. Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bowl first. Bangladesh openers Mehidy Hassan and Sabbir Ahmed came out to open the innings. Sri Lanka struck early as they sent Ahmed back to the pavilion on the score of 19 after 2.5 overs.
The fall of the first wicket brought captain Shakib-al-Hasan to the crease who stabilized the innings along with Hasan after the first wicket. Hasan looked in fine form as he scored two fours and as many sixes in his innings of 38 off 26. He was finally removed by Wanindu Hasaranga who got him clean bowled.
Shakib also got a start but couldn’t convert it into a big score as he got out for 24 off 22 balls. A 57-run partnership between Afif Hossain and Mahmudullah for the fifth wicket proved to be vital for Bangladesh. Some useful cameos from the lower order got their total to 183/7 after 20 overs. Afif Hossain was the top scorer for Bangladesh who scored 39 off 22. Hasaranga and Karunaratne picked up 2 wickets each for Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave their team an electrifying start as they scored 45 runs in 5.3 overs. After a brilliant start, Sri Lanka lost their way as Ebadot Hossain brought Bangladesh back into the game by picking three wickets in quick time. Sri Lanka lost another wicket and were 77/4 after 8.5 overs. A 54-run partnership between Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka stabilized the Sri Lankan innings.
Mendis was looking in fine touch as he brought up his half-century after getting a life early on in his innings. He was finally dismissed at a crucial juncture of the game as Bangladesh made a comeback into the match. The match was off to a thrilling finish as Bangladesh kept on picking wickets at regular intervals. Sri Lanka required 25 runs off the last two overs and they found two unlikely heroes in Chamika Karunaratne and Asitha Fernando. The equation further came down to eight of the last over. Bangladesh let the match slip from their hands due to their indiscipline bowling giving away eight wides and four no-balls. Sri Lanka registered a thrilling win with four balls to spare and qualified for the Super 4s stage of the competition. On the other hand, Bangladesh were knocked out.
Here are some of the best Tweets on the match:
The most thirlling match of this taurnament, where does Cricket go From here?#SLvsBAN
— Abdul Samad (@shalmeen132) September 1, 2022
Bangladesh Suicide??@BCBtigers#SLvsBAN
— PETER ALEXANDER ? (@Rohit4565725080) September 1, 2022
#Hasaranga has been a disaster an all-rounder…such pathetic irresponsible shot at a crucial point in a must-win game. #SLvsBan #AsiaCup
— movieman (@movieman777) September 1, 2022
And the snakes are out in the stadium ?????? ..What a game ! #SLvsBan pic.twitter.com/m09qSV8Oyq
— Aash Mehta (@iamaashmehta) September 1, 2022
Tigers, who evolved to snakes a few years ago, have been tamed in #AsiaCupT20 #SLvsBan
— J.Mallick (@jibanaj) September 1, 2022
#nagin gin gin gin ??????#AsiaCup2022 #BANVSSL #SLvsBAN pic.twitter.com/bQkG77fEVD
— Aadi???? (@Adnan_aadi_) September 1, 2022
What a knock! what a match! Spine chilling till the end. A match worth watching. Sri Lanka you deserve this victory for ur never give up attitude #SLvsBAN
— Guruprasad Kulkarni (@GuruprasadKul20) September 1, 2022
Lankan win match.
The Snakes have been tamed yet again.#AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup2022 #SLvsBAN #Bangladesh #SriLanka #SLvBAN #BANvSL #BANvsSL pic.twitter.com/zHe8ZQc3eW— Parshotam Thakur (@Parshot62092015) September 1, 2022
A perfect win for @OfficialSLC ?? . This was major highlight moment in the todays match . #SriLanka Players doing naagin ?? dance after winning the match ?? in their style ?? !! #AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup2022 #SLvBAN #BANvSL #SLvsBAN #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/7gQ84CgQ1Q
— Akash Raju ?? (@Raju_SSMB) September 1, 2022
Bangladeshi fans have got used to this kind of last over humiliation. Earlier they used to break down and now they just know what’s gonna happen. #BANVSSL #AsiaCupT20 #SLvsBAN #Asiacup2022 pic.twitter.com/AlMRSVGwMM
— ThisNThat (@vaiped) September 1, 2022
Nowadays #INDvsPAK turns into a friendly charity game and #SLvsBAN becomes a real rivalry.
Damn this game was a cliffhanger.#BANvSL #AsiaCupT20— ?IGH? M????? (@SettuPaiya) September 1, 2022
#INDvsPAK seems overrated now. #SLvsBAN is the real deal. Best match of the tournament by far ??
— Mrutyunjay Mohanty (@MartianTapu) September 1, 2022
