When people are overwhelmed by the river’s danger, they hold on to the straw to save their backs. The situation of Bangladesh in the World Cup is very similar. Back-to-back defeats ensure elimination from the tournament. The last thing is to keep alive the possibility of playing in the Champions Trophy. For this, Bangladesh used all efforts to stop the opponent. World cricket saw the first instance of ‘timed out’. After Angelo Mathews’s out, Shakib Al Hasan came under fire. However, Bangladesh won the match against all odds. The taste of victory after six consecutive defeats.
Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in their seventh World Cup match. After taking two wickets with the ball, Shakib Al Hasan is the hero of Bangladesh’s victory with 82 runs with the bat.
Bangladesh has already been sent off after losing six times in a row. A loss today would have threatened the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, Bangladesh got some relief from that threat.
The target for victory was 280 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This run was chased by Bangladesh’s opening failure as usual. In the third over of the innings, Tanjid Tamim (9) was caught by Pathum Nishankar while Dilshan Madushankar was playing the ball outside off stump.
Liton can also fall into Dilshan’s trap in the same over. But Lytton was saved in that journey as Kushal Perra missed the catch at deep fine leg. Liton could not use it despite getting life for 6 runs. At the head of 23 runs, he fell into the trap of Dilshan’s LB and returned to the dressing room.
Bangladesh are under pressure after losing a pair of wickets for 41 runs. Shakib and Shanto rescued the team from there. The two made a partnership of 169 runs. Bangladesh wrote the story of victory in this pair. The flower of relief bloomed today in that batting which was talking about disappointment in everyone’s mouth. Shakib-Shantor runs fountain of runs in the bat, even in confidence. The Lankan eased the team’s path to victory without bothering the batsmen. This pair was broken by Shakib’s dismissal for 210 runs. Shakib returned with an easy catch at point off Asalanka. The captain returned with 82 runs off 65 balls.
After Shakib, even Shanto could not go to the century room. His resistance broke in the 90’s room. Mathews bowled and Shanta returned. His 101-ball innings was decorated with 12 boundaries. Sometimes Mushfiq also went back to being bowled. But in the end, Bangladesh reached the door of victory with 53 balls in hand.
Earlier Bangladesh chose to bowl after winning the toss. The beginning of the bowling innings is also excellent. Shariful broke Sri Lanka’s opening pair in the first over. Kushal (4) took the wicket of Perera. Of course, keeper Mushfiq made a big contribution to that wicket. Kushal goes to drive the ball outside the off stump of Shariful. However, the ball hit the edge of the bat at first slip, and Mushfiq took a great catch.
Sri Lanka overcame the initial shock in the second pair. Pathum Nishanka and Kushal Mendis, who went down in one down, suffered Bangladesh. Shakib was the savior when the three pacers could not break the pair. He took the wicket of Mendis in his first over. However, Mendis wanted to fly the Bangladesh captain’s slower ball to the boundary. But fielder Shariful slides to the boundary and takes a great catch. Mendis (19) returned to Sajghar after getting out.
After the captain Nishankar Thaman, Tanjim Shakib came out to play the first match in the World Cup. Nishankar’s storm stopped after being stumped by this young pacer. 41 runs from 36 balls came from his bat.
Then Sadira Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka gave a 63-run partnership together. Shakib broke the pair in 24.2 overs. Just then another incident happened. Which is the first time to see international cricket. Angelo Mathews came to the wicket when Sadira was dismissed by Shakib. After coming to the wicket, he had to return to the dressing room without playing any ball. Because, he is ‘timed out’. According to Article 16.2 of Cricket, the new batter must take strike two minutes after a batter is out. But Mathews was timed out as he failed to do so due to helmet complications.
Despite losing Mathews, Sri Lanka had no problem scoring runs. Charith Asalanka handled the danger of losing quick wickets. He crossed the team’s 200 with De Silva. Mehdi Hasan Miraj broke this pair by 213 runs. Returned de Silva. De Silva returned with 34 runs from 36 balls, breaking the pair of 78 runs.
Despite losing one wicket after another, Asalanka could not be stopped. He reached the magical figure of three with 101 balls. In the end, he gave Sri Lanka a solid capital of 279 runs. Asalanka scored 108 runs.
Summary Score:
Sri Lanka: 279/10 in 49.3 overs (Nishanka 41, Perera 4, Mendis 19, Samarawickrama 41, Asalanka 108, Mathews 0, Silva 34, Thiksana 22, Chamira 4, Rajitha 0, Madhushanka 0; Shariful 9.3-0-52 2, Taskin 10-1-39-0, Tanjim 10-0-80-3, Shakib 10-0-57-2, Mirage 10-0-49-1)
Bangladesh: 282/7 in 41.1 overs (Tamim 9, Litton 23, Shanta 90, Shakib 82, Mahmudullah 22, Mushfiqur 10, Hriday 15, Miraj 3, Shakib 5; Madhushanka 10-1-69-3, Thiksana 9-0-44 -2, Rajitha 4-0-47-0, Chamira 8-0-54-0, Mathews 7.1-1-35-2, Silva 3-0-20-0)
Results: Bangladesh won by three wickets.
