Nidahas Trophy, Match 3 Review, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: Tigers Make Light Work of a Daunting Target

Bangladesh scripted history and chased down a mammoth 215 to win the 3^rd game of the Nidahas Trophy. It was a sensational chase, to say the least. Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 72 of 35 deliveries. Liton Das scored 43 of 19 deliveries while Tamim Iqbal scored 47 of 29 deliveries. Earlier in the day, it was a brilliant knock by Kusal Perera which propelled Sri Lanka to 214.

It was Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah who won the toss and put the hosts in. The openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis got the hosts off to a brisk start. Boundaries started flowing from the very first over. Mendis, in particular, looked in superb touch and smashed a couple of fours and sixes to start off proceedings. Gunathilaka also began briskly and found the boundary rope on a consistent basis.

After a 56 runs stand, it was Mustafizur Rahman who provided the visitors with the maiden breakthrough in the form of Danushka Gunathilka. The southpaw was dismissed after making a quickfire 26 of 19 deliveries which were studded with 3 fours and a six. However, the dismissal didn’t bother Mendis and he kept going after the bowlers.

He was yet again supported well by Kusal Perera who made light work of the Indian bowlers the other day. By the end of the 10^th over, Sri Lanka had reached a commanding position and was placed on 98/1. Perera after a slow start smashed a few wonderful shots to get his innings back on track. Mendis went on to score yet another half-century. But after sharing a brilliant partnership of 85 runs, it was skipper Mahmudullah who provided the much-needed breakthrough.

He bagged the wicket of Kusal Mendis and quickly added one more in the form of Dasun Shanaka. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal was also dismissed pretty cheaply. Chandimal got a leading edge and t was brilliantly taken by Sabbir Rahman as Sri Lanka found themselves on 150/4 in 15 overs. Eventually, some late hitting by Upul Tharanga propelled them to 214 in their 20 overs. Perera scored a magnificent 74 of 48 deliveries which were studded with 8 fours and a couple of sixes.

Bangladesh began in a sensational fashion as openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das started going after the Lankan bowlers straight away. It was some sensational piece of strokeplay by both the batsmen. Liton Das, in particular, looked in sensational flow and smashed 43 of 19 deliveries. His innings was studded with 2 fours and 5 sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim played a blinder of a knock and made the Sri Lankan bowlers pay. He smashed a brilliant knock of and guided Bangladesh home.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka 214/6 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 74, Kusal Mendis 57, Mustafizur Rahman 3/48)

Bangladesh 215/5 in 19.4 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 72*, Nuwan Pradeep 2/37)

Bangladesh won by 5 wickets (with two balls to spare)