Asia Cup, highlights: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 3 wickets to finish unbeaten before final vs Pakistan

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by three wickets in the last league game of the Asia Cup at Mirpur. Catch highlights here. (Scorecard | Commentary | Toss report)

 

21:31 (IST): Man-of-the-Match and Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews: I was under a little bit of pressure to be honest. We were losing wickets and had to consolidate. Chaturanga batted beautifully. We wanted to try out a few things in this game against Bangladesh and also wanted to chase to see how we go about it. However, it was not easy once we lost a few wickets. I am sure Mahela Jayawardene can always stage a comeback. (Run-out today on a duck after a mix-up between him and Lahiru Thirimanne). He is a big match player and I am sure he will come good for us.

 

21:28 (IST): Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim: It was really disappointing not to win. We fought well in all our four games. We dropped crucial catches, our batsmen lost their wickets rather quickly. We have a couple of areas to work on. We missed the injured players but that is not an excuse. Also, what we showed against Afghanistan was not good enough for international cricket. We want to play for fans in our country. I feel bad for them and really hope we can perform better in the T20 World Cup.

 

21:24 (IST): So, another great match in this Asia Cup kept the interest among cricket fans going despite an inconsequential game between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Mirpur on Thursday. It was another great innings from Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews (74 off 103 balls) who batted with responsibility, leading his team to victory in their chase of 205 after they were reduced to 75/5 at one stage by the spirited Bangladesh bowlers. Sri Lanka will take a lot of confidence from this victory ahead of their big final against Pakistan on Saturday but they also have lots of lessons to learn. Pakistan too, will try to put in a better bowling performance after conceding 326 against Bangladesh in their last league game. We are all set for an exciting Asia Cup 2014 final now between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Mirpur on Saturday, March 8.

21:11 (IST): Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by three wickets in the last league game of the Asia Cup and finish unbeaten in the tournament before the final in Mirpur against Pakistan on Saturday.

 

21:07 (IST): WICKET! This is getting interesting once again. Thisara Perera (15 off 23 balls) runs himself out thanks to a direct hit from Rubel Hossain. Al-Amin Hossain was the bowler. Sachitra Senanayake comes in to bat now. Sri Lanka 193/7 after 47.1 overs. Need 12 off 17 balls.

 

21:01 (IST): Will that be taken? Thisara Perera miscues that while playing it on the backfoot off Mahmudullah. For a moment, it seemed like there will be a catch but it fell both short and wide of the fielder. Sri Lanka need an easy 12 runs off 18 balls now. (SL 193/6 after 47 overs)

 

20:42 (IST): Angelo Mathews almost sacrifices his partner's wicket (Thisara Perera) in order to get to his 19th ODI fifty with a quick single, his second against Bangladesh. He gets there, nonetheless after 82 balls. A different innings and much required by the skipper. Sri Lanka 164/6 after 42.1 overs.

 

20:28 (IST): WICKET! Left-handed Chathuranga de Silva (44 off 52 balls) tries to sweep away Mahmudullah for a boundary but instead produces an edge only to be caught safely behind the wicket by Anamul Haque. He escaped by the skin of his teeth in the earlier over too when Al-Amin Hossain dropped a sitter while de Silva was trying to hit Shakib Al Hasan for a six. Sri Lanka 157/6 after 39.3 overs.

 

20:24 (IST): Sri Lanka look like they will win comfortably from here. Both Angelo Mathews and Chathuranga de Silva seem to be in good touch. Mathews has moved to 45 off 73 balls and De Silva has moved to 42 off 45. They are playing very intelligently, taking singles and hitting a few boundaries in between. Sri Lanka 153/5 after 38 overs.

 

20:10 (IST): Fifty-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Chathuranga de Silva and Angelo Mathews! (53 runs off 65 balls). Sri Lanka 128/5 after 34 overs.

19:46 (IST): Rubel Hossain to Chathuranga de Silva! Four! Chathuranga uses the middle-and-leg line maintained by Rubel to his advantage and nudges it down for a boundary. This also brings up 100 runs for Sri Lanka. (SL 100/5 after 29.2 overs)

 

19:34 (IST): Is this a chance for the wicketkeeper? Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews produces an edge off a cross-seam Ziaur Rahman delivery but it finds its way to the boundary, just out of the reach of Anamul Haque. Rahman cannot believe his luck. This would have been a huge wicket for Bangladesh. Sri Lanka 91/5 after 27 overs.

 

19:16 (IST): WICKET! Lahiru Thirimanne decides to go over the ground while facing Arafat Sunny but Rubel Hossain runs down to make a brilliant catch. It was almost going to sail over the boundary had he not managed to get there. Thirimanne goes for 33 off 60 balls. Sri Lanka 75/5 after 23.1 overs.

19:06 (IST): Ziaur Rahman to Angelo Mathews. SIX! That's hammered down the ground! Sri Lanka 69/4 after 20.1 overs.

 

18:38 (IST): WICKET! Ziaur Rahman strikes for Bangladesh. Ashan Priyanjan (24 off 38 balls) cannot read the short-pitched delivery and it goes off his gloves in the hands of wicketkeeper Anamul Haque, who does a good job holding onto the catch there. Sri Lanka 47/4 in 14.4 overs.

 

18:30 (IST): Shakib Al Hasan to Ashan Priyanjan. Is that taken by the captain? No, it fell just short of Mushfiqur Rahim on the leg-side as Priyanjan was charging down in his attempt to send it away for a boundary. Sri Lanka 40/3 after 12 overs. Ziaur Rahman into the attack now.

 

18:19 (IST): Shakib Al Hasan brought into the attack by Mushfiqur Rahim in the 10th over. Sri Lanka moving dangerously at 30/3 after 10.

 

18:03 (IST): Sri Lanka reeling at 19/3 at the end of 6 overs in reply to Bangladesh's 204/9. This is turning out to be a very interesting game, contrary to what it seemed like after the Bangladesh innings was over.

 

17:51 (IST): WICKET! What is happening here? There is a confusion between Mahela Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela falls in the trap and is run-out. He thought there was a run there at the non-strikers end when Thirimanne pushed it for a possible single but he sent him back immediately only to see his partner lose his wicket! Jayawardene goes for a duck! (Run-out by Mahmudullah). Sri Lanka 8/3 after 3.3 overs.

 

17:43 (IST): WICKET! The reliable Kumar Sangakkara falls now! Al-Amin Hossain was angling it away from Sangakkara, who produced an edge that was caught easily by Nasir Hossain at slip! Sri Lanka 6/2 after 2.1 overs.

17:35 (IST): WICKET! Kusal Perera is gone on the second ball of Sri Lanka's innings. Al-Amin Hossain bowls a slightly short one that Perera misses and produces an edge. Its nicely caught behind by Anamul Haque and Perera goes for a duck! Sri Lanka 0/1 after 0.2 overs.

16:52 (IST): Bangladesh started off very well as Shamsur Rahman and Anamul Haque put on a 74-run opening stand but couldn't sustain the Sri Lankan bowling attack, led by the spinners. Wickets fell at regular intervals and although Nasir Hossain along with Mahmudullah put on 55 runs for the sixth wicket, Bangladesh could only manage just over 200 runs in the end. Sri Lanka will relish this situation and may make some changes to their batting order to give confidence to players who have missed out so far in the Asia Cup. Bangladesh, on the other hand, would need early wickets to have any chance of winning.

 

16:49 (IST): Bangladesh finish at 204/9 at the end of 50 overs.

16:43 (IST): WICKET! Thisara Perera is on fire! Rubel Hossain is bowled while facing his first delivery off a perfect yorker. Perera is on a hat-trick. Bangladesh 203/9 after 49.3 overs.

16:41 (IST): WICKET! Ziaur Rehman completely misses it and is bowled for 12 off 14 balls! Thisara Perera strikes! Bangladesh 203/8 after 49.2 overs.

 

16:41 (IST): One last over left then for Bangladesh to push this over 210. They are 199/7 at the end of 49 overs. Ziaur Rehman (8* off 12 balls), Arafat Sunny(2* off 9 balls)

 

16:28 (IST): WICKET! Nasir Hossain takes the aerial route against Suranga Lakmal but it goes straight down the throat of Mahela Jayawardene at long-on. Bangladesh 183/7 after 46.3 overs.

16:20 (IST): WICKET! A perfect yorker from Suranga Lakmal! It goes through Mahmudullah's bat and the off-stump is dislodged. He goes for 30 off 41 balls. Bangladesh 174/6 after 44.3 overs.

 

16:06 (IST): The batting powerplay (5 overs) has yielded just 18 runs. There could have been another wicket on the second delivery of the 40th over as Mahmudullah was trying to reverse-paddle but the ball hit his pads. A loud LBW appeal was made by the bowler but turned down by the umpire! Mahmudullah made it up with a boundary on the fourth ball though. Bangladesh 144/5 at the end of 40 overs.

15:59 (IST): Ajantha Mendis is preparing to bowl once again, replacing Suranga Lakmal. This will be his sixth over. Bangladesh 134/5 after 38 overs.

 

15:51 (IST): Bangladesh haven't quite got going even after the second over of the powerplay! It is understandable though because they do not want to lose more wickets. They have to get themselves to something over 200 though to stand a chance of winning this match. Mahmudullah (8* off 17 balls) and Nasir Hossain (8* off 21 balls) at the crease. (BAN 132/5 after 37 overs)

15:35 (IST): WICKET! Ashan Priyanjan strikes again! It's Shakib Al Hasan who has to depart now! Angelo Mathews takes a comfortable catch at mid-wicket and Bangladesh have now lost half their side. (BAN 119/5 after 33.2 overs)

15:23 (IST): WICKET! Ashan Priyanjan strikes as Lahiru Thirimanne takes a wonderful catch to remove Anamul Haque who was trying to flick it away for a four on the leg-side. Anamul falls just short of his 2nd ODI fifty and is out for 49. Bangladesh 106/4 after 29.1 overs.

 

15:18 (IST): Anamul Haque slams a good length delivery from Thisara Perera towards the off-side for a single. This brings the score to 100 runs for Bangladesh. (BAN 100/3 after 27 overs.)

 

15:03 (IST): Shakib Al Hasan comes in to bat now! He made an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls against Pakistan in Bangladesh's last game, on return from a three-match ban. Shakib hits Ajantha Mendis for a boundary off the third delivery of his fifth over and makes his intentions clear. Bangladesh 93/3 after 23 overs.

 

14:56 (IST): WICKET! Chathuranga de Silva traps Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim in front of the stumps. He is out LBW for just 4 runs off six balls. Good over from Chathuranga, he took a wicket and gave away just three runs. Bangladesh 87/3 after 22 overs.

14:46 (IST): WICKET! Ajantha Mendis now gets Mominul Haque with a wrong'un. He is bowled for just one run. Bangladesh in trouble now at 76/2 after 19 overs.

 

14:41 (IST): WICKET! Ajantha Mendis traps Shamsur Rahman with a quicker one! The mystery spin riddle still cannot be solved. Rahman made 37 in 59 balls before being out LBW. Bangladesh 74/1 after 18.2 overs.

14:35 (IST): Chathuranga de Silva starts his third over and Anamul Haque goes over long-on for a six! The first in this match! Anamul once again used his feet well, following on from where he left in his innings against Pakistan. Bangladesh 68/0 after 16 overs.

 

14:27 (IST): Bangladesh openers Anamul Haque and Shamsur Rahman don't want to give away their wicket easily. They have adopted a careful approach to batting in the initial overs but are still moving nicely. Thisara Perera's fifth over went for just 4 runs. Bangladesh 49/0 after 13 overs.

 

14:15 (IST): Shamsur Rahman is showing exquisite timing in this innings. He has grabbed the golden opportunity to play in this match (after Imrul Kayes' injury) with both hands. Sachitra Senanayake's second over went for two boundaries, both coming off Rahman's bat. Bangladesh look good now at 39/0 after 10 overs.

 

14:05 (IST): Bangladesh going at exactly 4-an-over till now but they have not yet lost a wicket. They are 28/0 after 7 overs as spinner Sachitra Senanayake is brought into the attack by Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews.

13:52 (IST): The flow of runs has been stemmed by the Sri Lankan bowlers as Suranga Lakmal learns his lessons and sticks to his line. He bowled a beautiful third delivery in his second over that swung away from Anamul Haque after landing outside off. Thisara Perera followed with a tidy over himself and Bangladesh are now 15/0 after 4 overs.

 

13:44 (IST): Suranga Lakmal does not seem to be having a good day today! He gave away an easy boundary in his first over with his bowling and another one with his sloppy fielding off the last delivery of the second over, bowled by Thisara Perera. Bangladesh 11/0 after 2 overs.

 

13:36 (IST): Bangladesh lose their effective left hand-right hand combination in the absence of Imrul Kayes. Shamsur Rahman opens with Anamul Haque, both right-hand batsmen. Rahman starts off well with a flourishing stroke on the offside on the fifth delivery of Suranga Lakmal's first over that goes for a four! Bangladesh 6/0 after 1.

13:06 (IST): In the Bangladesh side, Shamsur Rahman replaces Imrul Kayes who is injured. Rubel Hossain and Arafat Sunny come in place of Shafiul Islam and Abdur Razzak. Within the Sri Lanka team, Ashan Priyanjan will take the place of Dinesh Chandimal, and spinner Sachitra Senanayake will play instead of Lasith Malinga, who is being rested.

 

13:00 (IST): Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first. Mushfiqur Rahim thinks his bowlers would be able to contain the flow of runs better when Sri Lanka will be batting second. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews says he would have bowled first anyway.

 

Preview:

 

On a rampaging run with three wins in as many matches, table-toppers Sri Lanka will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they take on a demoralised Bangladesh in an inconsequential one-dayer of the Asia Cup on Thursday.

Four-time champions, Sri Lanka cruised into the finals of the Asia Cup, riding on their invincible run in the tournament where they defeated Pakistan, India and Afghanistan in their last three matches. (Points Table)

Bangladesh, on the other hand, have been winless in the tournament and are languishing at the bottom of the points table. The hosts lost to India in their tournament-opener but it was the moral-shattering defeat against minnows Afghanistan which hurt them most.

However, the Bengal tigers came out blasting all cylinders against Pakistan on Tuesday, posting a record total of 326 for three, only to see Shahid Afridi blow away their hopes with a blistering 25-ball 59.