MISHARA NEW REVELATION, NISSANKA FASTEST TO 2000, HASARANGA TELLING RETURN

By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka dumped Bangladesh by 6 wickets in riding the first big death hurdle of overcoming the threat of dangerous opposition given a 2-1 T20 home series defeat early this year to mounting their Asia Cup campaign on the high of 2 points in the bag and net run rate by a facile 140 for 4 chase in 14.4 overs with 32 balls to spare yesterday at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium lin a riotous start and end to the showdown having pinned Bangladesh, put into bat to 5 for 53 into 9.5 overs to a final 139 for 5 recovery thanks to a sixth wicket unfinished 86 fightback before the Lankans put the lid on it by a rousing second wicket 95 off 64 balls between Pathum Nissanka 50 off 34 with 6 boundaries and a 6 and Kamil Mishara unbeaten on 46 off 32 with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes proving the new revelation Player of the Match.

Sri Lanka 140 for 4 (Nissanka 50, Mishara 46, Mahedi 2-29) beat Bangladesh 139 for 5 (Shamim 42, Jaker 41*, Hasaranga 2-25) by six wickets