Hridoy, Hassan Guide Bangla to Thrilling Win Over Sri Lanka

APP/AFP

Dubai: Half-centuries from Towhid Hridoy (58) and Saif Hassan (61) powered Bangladesh to a thrilling four-wicket victory over former champions Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage of the men’s Asia Cup on Saturday.

Having been thrashed by Sri Lanka in the first round, Bangladesh bounced back strongly after winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 168 for seven on a batting-friendly track, with Dasun Shanaka top-scoring for the islanders with a fluent 64 off 37 balls — his first half-century since January 2023.

Chasing 169, Bangladesh looked comfortable at 159 for three, needing just 10 runs off 10 balls. But Hridoy’s dismissal, trapped leg-before by Dushmantha Chameera in the 19th over, gave Sri Lanka hope. Shanaka then struck twice in the final over to set up a tense finish.

In the end, tail-ender Nasum Ahmed held his nerve, nudging a single off the penultimate delivery to seal victory with one ball to spare.

Hassan gave Bangladesh an electric start in the powerplay, smashing 61 off 45 balls with two fours and four sixes. Hridoy ensured momentum was not lost, scoring 58 off 37 balls with four boundaries and two sixes, while also bringing up his 1,000 T20I runs.

Sri Lanka were left ruing sloppy fielding, having dropped three catches, and the absence of a frontline bowler, as part-timers had to fill four overs that Bangladesh capitalized on.

The defeat capped an emotional day for Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage, who featured in the match after flying back from Colombo earlier in the morning to attend his father’s funeral.

The Asia Cup is heating up, with arch-rivals Pakistan and India set to face off tomorrow in their second encounter of the tournament. A potential third meeting looms if both sides reach the final scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.

India, who won the last 50-over edition of the Asia Cup, enter the Super Fours as favourites to retain their crown. Pakistan and India advanced from Group A, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka qualified from Group B. The tournament also serves as vital preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year.