By Srian Obeyesekere
Despite a 105-ball 108 by Charith Asalanka in a score of 279, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in a game marred by a first in history of cricket timed out Angelo Mathews who was given out by the two umpires in consultation following an appeal by Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan after Mathews wasn’t ready to face his first ball within two minutes as per tournament rules after his helmet strap broke and more than three minutes elapsed before he received a replacement helmet at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium yesterday. The incident ended in bad blood between the two sides with a furious Mathews blasting Bangladesh for the appeal that made him the first batter to be timed out in international cricket during the World Cup on Monday.
Bangladesh and captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed for the Sri Lanka veteran to be timed out and the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth upheld the appeal leaving Mathews furious as he walked off the field. The tournament playing conditions hold that “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”
His helmet strap broke and more than three minutes elapsed before he received a replacement helmet. Bangladesh and captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed for the Sri Lanka veteran to be timed out and the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth agreed. Mathews was livid as he walked off the field.
As it was, Sri Lanka’s 279 on Asalanka’s attacking century upped by 5 over the top and 6 to the boundary proved inadequate as Bangladesh coasted through on a Player of the Match 92 by Shakib Al Hasan who hit 12 boundaries and 2 sixes with Najmul Hossain Shanto scoring 90 with the duo posting 169 for the third wicket off 151 balls. The partnership pulled Bangladesh out of an early rut of 17 for 1 after 2.1 overs and 41 for 2 after 6.2 after Lankan speedster Dilshan Madushanka removed Tanzid Hasan for 9 held by Pathum Nissanka with the score 17 and trapped Litton Das leg before wicket for 23.
Charith Asalanka revived the Lankan innings adding 61 for the second wicket off 63 balls with Pathum Nissanka who made 41 (36b, 8×4) after Kusal Janith Perera was dismissed in the very first over by Shoriful Islam for 4 caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim with the score 5. He added a further 63 for the fourth wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama who made a run a ball 41 hitting 4 boundaries. Asalanka was eighth out with the score 278 having also associated in productive partnerships of 78 off 82 with Dhananjaya de Silva 36 off 36 with 4 boundaries and a six, and 45 off 49 with Maheesh Theekshana 21 off 31 inclusive of 3 boundaries.
CHIEF SCORES:
Sri Lanka 279 (49.3 Overs) RR: 5.63
(Charith Asalanka 108, Pathum Nissanka 41, Sadeera Samarawickrama 41, Dhananjaya de Silva 34, Maheesh Theekshana 21, Kusal Mendis 19, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/80, Shoriful Islam 2/51, Shakib Al Hasan 2/57, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1/49)
Bangladesh 282/7 (41.1 Overs) RR: 6.85
(Najmul Hossain Shanto 90, Shakib Al Hasan 82, Litton Das 23, Litton Das 23, Mahmudullah 22, Mushfiqur Rahim b Madushanka 10, Towhidd Hridoy n.o. 15, Tanzim Hasan Sakib n.o. 5, Dilshan Madushanka 3/69, Angelo Mathews 2/35, Maheesh Theekshana 2/44)