Bangladesh kicked off their campaign with a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup 2024 Group D clash at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Saturday, June 8.
With a target of 126, Bangladesh chased it down with an over to spare. Towhid Hridoy led Bangladesh's batting with a quickfire knock of 40 off 20 balls at an impressive strike rate of 200, while Litton Das contributed with an innings of 36 off 38 balls. Mahmuddulah stepped up for the team when they were required 11 off 12 balls to win. He hit a six to bring equation down to 5 off 11 balls before taking the team past the finishing line.
For Sri Lanka, Nuwan Thushara led the bowling attack as he registered the figures of 4/18 with an economy rate of 4.50 in four wickets. While skipper Wanindu Hasaranga picked two wickets. Sri Lanka's collective bowling effort was on display but went in vain as they couldn't defend 125-run total.
Chasing 126-run total, Bangladesh lost three wickets for 28 runs in powerplay. However, Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy stepped up to revive the team's batting with 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket until the latter was dismissed at 91/4.
Then, Litton Das's stay at the crease ended after he was ended at 99/5. Ex-captain Shakib Al Hassan failed to step up for Bangladesh as he walked back to the pavilion after he was dismissed for 9 at 109/6. Thereafter, Bangladesh lost two more wickets in Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed and they were 113/8.
Mahmuddulah stepped up for the team at crucial juncture and took the team past the finishing line.
Bangladesh bowlers put best effort to restrict Sri Lanka to 125
Bangladesh bowlers put up a collective effort to ensure that Sri Lanka didn't put a formidable total on the scoreboard. Mustafizur Rahman (3/17) and Rishad Hossain (3/22) combined picked six wickets, while Taskin Ahmed picked two wickets.
Rahman kept troubling Sri Lanka batters by delivering the ball at good line and length, while Rishad Hossain picked two crucial wickets Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka to put a brake on Sri Lanka's batting momentum.
For Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka led the batting as he played an innings of 47 off 28 balls, while Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka scored 21 and 19, respectively.
