.jpg?fm=webp&h=800&q=80&w=1024&s=7141a56fb421e486562d5d9095e9dcb1)
Sri Lanka rode on half-centuries from Charith Asalanka (80*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (53) to register a five-wicket win against Bangladesh in their first match of the Super 12s. Mohammad Naim (62) and Mushfiqur Rahim (57) had propelled Bangladesh to 171/4, but Sri Lanka chased it down in 18.5 overs.
Liton Das and Mohammad Naim started on a cautious note after Bangladesh were put in. They largely dealt in ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking. Das made run-a-ball 16 before holing out to Dasun Shanaka off Lahiru Kumara.
Shakib did not take time to settle, hitting two boundaries to bring 14 off the last over of the Powerplay. But the scoring rate slumped again after Shakib was bowled in the eighth over.
After two quiet overs, Rahim broke the shackles with a six over deep mid wicket off Wanindu Hasaranga. He soon had a second six when he picked up a slower delivery from Binura Fernando and launched it over long-on.
Naim, meanwhile, held the fort, gradually bringing up his fifty. His innings ended after his attempted pull was caught by Binura. Rahim, too, reached his fifty. Mahmudullah hit two fours in the last over as Bangladesh ended on 171/4.
Sri Lanka lost their first wicket, of Kusal Perera, to the fourth ball of the innings. Charith Asalanka then joined Pathum Nissanka out in the middle, and the duo added 69 runs for the second-wicket stand.
Asalanka attacked from the word go, smashing two sixes off Nasum Ahmed in the third over. Nissanka, too, hit a six and a four in the last over of the Powerplay. At this point they were very much in control of the chase.
But Shakib pulled things back for Bangladesh with a double-blow in the eighth over. He got both Nissanka and Avishka Fernando, and Waninidu Hasaranga's dismissal reduced them 79/4.
But Rajapaksa and Asalanka held their nerves and added 86 to take the sting out of the game. Asalanka struck five sixes and as many fours for his 49-ball 80, while Rajapaksa got 53. Asalanka hit the winning boundary in the 19th over.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 171/4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Naim 62; Chamika Karunaratne 1-12) lost to Sri Lanka 172/5 in 18.5 overs (Charith Asalanka 80*; Shakib Al Hasan 2-17) by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Charith Asalanka.