Charith Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to high-scoring win over Bangladesh

Asalanka was only brought into Sri Lanka’s line-up for their game against the Netherlands, having been left out of wins over Ireland and Namibia. He finished unbeaten on 80 to lead his country to victory in Sharjah

Sharjah: Bangladesh 171-4, Sri Lanka 172-5 - Sri Lanka win by five wickets

Scorecard

Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa led Sri Lanka to victory over Bangladesh in a high-scoring game at Sharjah, with both sides opening their campaigns in the Super 12s after qualifying from the initial group stage.

Asalanka was only brought into Sri Lanka’s line-up for their game against the Netherlands, having been left out of wins over Ireland and Namibia. He finished unbeaten on 80, while Rajapaksa made 53 on his 30th birthday.

Bangladesh had been asked to bat first and appeared to be on top after reaching 171 for 4, with half centuries from Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim, before reducing Sri Lanka to 79 for 4 in response as Dasun Shanaka’s side lost three wickets in nine balls, only to recover in expert style.

There was an early controversy when Sri Lanka fast bowler Lahiru Kumara reacted to dismissing Bangladesh opener Liton Das by squaring up to the batter, before Shakib Al Hasan was bowled by Chamika Karunaratne shortly afterwards.

Thereafter, a partnership ensued between Naim and Rahim, with both men passing fifty and playing a raft of attractive strokes.

^{Charith Asalanka made 80 for Sri Lanka}

After Naim was caught and bowled by Binura Fernando, Afif Hossain was run out carelessly, too slow in returning to his crease after the ball ricocheted off his pad back towards Kumara. Mahmudullah added some late gloss as captain, however, striking two boundaries in five balls.

Their total looked like being sufficient once Nasum Ahmed had beaten Kusal Perera’s attempted slog-sweep and Shakib had twirled through the defences of both Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando in the same over.

When Wanindu Hasaranga mishit Mohammad Saifuddin to Naim in the deep, they appeared to have taken full charge: at one stage, Sri Lanka required 82 runs off 48 balls.

But Sri Lanka’s fifth-wicket pair put on 86 in just 8.4 overs to lead a victory charge that was completed by Asalanka after Rajapaksa, who had earlier taken down Saifuddin at a crucial moment in the game, fell with eight runs still needed.

The pair had hit eight sixes between them – six more than in Bangladesh’s entire innings – to complete a vital win with seven balls remaining.