Mendis, Shanaka and Asitha put Sri Lanka in the Super 4s
Bangladesh bow out of the Asia Cup, ruing mistakes they made on the field
Bangladesh bow out of the Asia Cup, ruing mistakes they made on the field
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Ashish Pant
Well, what a match this turned out to be. Hope you all enjoyed our coverage. The tournament rumbles on and it will be Pakistan to take on Hong Kong tomorrow and we will be right here to bring all the updates. Till then, this is Ashish Pant signing off on behalf of Madushka and Thilak. Good night!
Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Match: First six overs, I played my normal game and did that all through. [On the no ball] I came out to bat again, and had a good plan and wanted to complete the game. I had a few chances. I did the best for the team. I did a lot of practice in Sri Lanka in the last six months. I know my job according to the team's point of view. I will do everything that is best for my team. Thank You, Sri Lanka supporters.
Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lanka captain : [On the thoughts on the match] Yeah, in the middle period I thought it was tough. When Kusal and I were at the crease, I felt it was achievable. Our openers did a very good job today. We lacked that in the other games. After that the partnerships went on. [On promoting himself up the order] I had thought about that, but from the team's point of view, I have to sacrifice my place and come down but I am happy to do that. My first priority is the team. It was Chamika's run out, I thought the game was done. But Asitha Fernando's two shots were great.
Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain: Death bowling is something we are looking to improve and that has cost us the game. The last two overs they were eight down and needed to get 17-18 runs and they got with a lot of balls to spare. We are not bowling well in he death. We should give lot of credit to SL, the way they held their nerves. We wanted to pick wickets, and saw the fast bowlers were picking wickets. There was pressure on SL. Whenever the bowlers bowl, they need to execute their plans. If you look at the last six months, we were not competitive but we were very competitive this time. We need to work in a lot of areas before the World Cup in Australia.
Presentation time
9.54pm What a way to qualify for the Super 4. What a match. The Sri Lankans are up in celebration. Lots of jumping as the players run out to the middle. Some tears in the stands as well. Oh, such varying emotions. There were a lot of chatter ahead of this clash and the game has lived up to its billing. It was all neck and neck for a long time but the extras, in the end, proved to be the difference. Eight wides and four no balls from Bangladesh, 0 wides and 0 no balls from Sri Lanka. Have to say, Sri Lanka held their nerves in the end. Ebadot was brilliant with his opening spell picking up three wickets on debut but such is the nature of the game, that while his first two overs went for 13 runs, his last two went for 38! Mendis had five lives and that proved decisive. Ebadot has the third-best figures for a Bangladesh bowler in T20Is, but that will be of little consolation to him.
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