In an exhilarating start to their T20 World Cup campaign, Bangladesh managed to secure a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain played a crucial role, claiming a remarkable 3/22, which severely restricted Sri Lanka to 124/9 on a moderately favorable Dallas surface.
Rishad’s lethal googlies and leg-breaks proved too much for the Lankans, who crumbled under his spell.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Struggles
Sri Lanka’s innings witnessed a promising start but quickly faltered. After a relatively stable 70/2 in 8.4 overs, they dramatically collapsed, losing seven wickets for just 54 runs. Mustafizur Rahman also played a significant role, using his slow off-cutters to perfection, ending with impressive figures of 3/17.
Pathum Nissanka was the lone warrior for Sri Lanka, scoring 47 off 28 balls. The only other noteworthy contribution came from Dhananjaya de Silva, who managed 21 runs. This highlighted the overall batting struggles of the Sri Lankan team.
Bangladesh’s Response and Middle-Order Collapse
Chasing a modest target, Bangladesh seemed in control, with Towhid Hridoy leading the charge. Hridoy smashed 40 off 20 balls, including four towering sixes, forming a crucial 63-run partnership with Litton Das, who scored a steady 36 off 38 balls.
However, the game took a dramatic turn when Nuwan Thusara’s brilliant spell of 4/18 brought Sri Lanka back into contention. Bangladesh lost five wickets for 21 runs, stumbling to 113/8, still needing 12 runs for victory.
Mahmudullah’s Experience Seals the Win
In a tense finish, veteran Mahmudullah Riyad showcased his experience and composure. Batting at No. 7, Mahmudullah hit a crucial six off Dasun Shanaka in the penultimate over, guiding Bangladesh to victory. He remained unbeaten on 16 of 13 balls, ensuring Bangladesh crossed the finish line with two wickets in hand.
Post-Match Reactions
Reflecting on the match, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged the challenging chase but praised his team’s resilience. “I think they bowled really well, but on a wicket like this, we should have won easily.
I don’t think we batted well,” Shanto admitted. He also commended Litton Das for his effort to overcome a poor run of form and Hridoy for his fearless batting.
Sri Lankan captain Wanindu Hasaranga expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, particularly the batting collapse. “Our batters batted really well in the first 8–10 overs. After that, in the middle overs, I think we batted badly.
“We all know our bowling attack is our strength, and if batters can put up 150–160, our bowling attack can win games,” Hasaranga said, emphasizing the need for a better batting display in upcoming matches.
Looking Ahead
With back-to-back defeats against South Africa and now Bangladesh, Sri Lanka’s chances of advancing to the Super 8 from Group D have taken a severe hit. On the other hand, Bangladesh, which had suffered several losses to newcomers in the USA prior to the tournament, will draw strength from this triumph as they prepare to face the Netherlands and Nepal.
This thrilling encounter sets the stage for an exciting T20 World Cup, with Bangladesh eager to build on their winning momentum and Sri Lanka aiming to regroup and bounce back in their remaining matches.
