CWC 2023, Match 38, Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka, Played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 6 November 2023
Sri Lanka 279 All Out 49.3 Over (Charith Asalanka 108, Pithun Nishanka 41, Sadeera Samarawickrama 41, Dhananjaya di Silva 41, Maheesh Theekshana 21, Tanjim Hasan Shakib 3/80, Shoriful Islam 2/51, Shakib Al Hasan 2/57, Angelo Mathews got Timed out)
Bangladesh 282/7 in 41.1 Over (Nazmul Hossain Shanto 90, Shakib Al Hasan 82, Litton K Das 23, Mahmudullah Riad 22, Towhid Hridoy j 15*, Dilshan Madhushanka 3/69, Angelo Mathews 2/35, Maheesh Theekshana 2/44)
Bangladesh won by 3 wickets with 53 balls to spare.
Player of the match: Shakib Al Hasan (82 and 2/57)
Bangladesh mission CWC 2023 was going dry caught in desert of continuous heart-breaking loss. It was do or die mission yesterday in the battle of nerves against Sri Lanka at smoky Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Brave team tigers appearing committed subdued Lankan Lions winning well by 3 wickets with 51 balls to spare. Winning the toss and risking in taking the field Bangladesh managed restricting Sri Lanka to 282/7. With back to the wall Bangladesh batted bravely and great team effort saw Bangladesh cruising over and across the target scoring 282/7. The all-important win puts Bangladesh on the track for finishing among top 8 that will facilitate them qualifying for Champions Trophy 2025.
Lot was resting on the outcome of yesterday’s match for both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh with two matches to play was languishing at number nine of the points table losing 6 matches on the trot of the 7 they played. Sri Lanka however won two. Win yesterday elevated Bangladesh at 7 above Sri Lanka. Bangladesh plays Australia in their last match, while Sri Lanka locks horns with New Zealand. Netherlands and England are at nine and ten. Towards the end of the group stage the fight for staying out of the bottom has grown as intense as the race for the semifinals.
Bangladesh win was tagged with a little bit controversy with Sri Lankan veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews became the first victim of Timed Out in the history of International Cricket. He was declared Timed Out as per 41.1.1 law of ICC requiring a batsman appearing to play his first delivery within 2 minutes of the previous batsman getting out or retiring out. Mathews delayed for some issues with his helmet. Shakib was well in his right to appeal and that was upheld. There is nothing wrong in Love and War. People talk about the spirit of the game. Shakib could call Mathews back. But Mathews breached the law. It was all part of the game.
Earlier Shakib won the toss and took calculative gamble of putting Sri Lanka to bat. You win some and loss some in gamble. Bangladesh was fortunate that it won the gamble yesterday. Sri Lanka nevertheless posted a challenging score of 279 all out. Bangladesh cruised past that target scoring 282/7 in 41.1 overs.
Determined Bangladesh bowled and fielded smartly never letting innings going beyond their reach. The entire bowling unit with young Tanjim Hasan Shakib having his world cup at long last bowled according to a plan. Lankan innings was successfully anchored by an excellent well composed 108 by Charith Asalanka. Bangladesh could subdue challenges of Pithun Nishanka (41), Sadeera Samrawickrama (41), Dhananjaya di Silva (34) before they could work out long partnership. Perhaps as it turned out 279 was about 25 runs too less to defend. Tanjim Shakib (3/80) was the peak of Bangladesh bowlers. Shoriful (2/51) and Shakib (2/57) were also impressive. We mentioned above that Angelo Mathews became the first player in international cricket being declared Timed Out without facing a ball.
Bangladesh innings started with openers Tanzid Tamim (9) and Litton (23) by Lankan discovery of CWC 2023 Dilshan Madhushanka. However, unlike other Matches of CWC 2023 Nazmul Shanto (90) and Shakib Al Hasan (82) stood firm. Their enterprising 169 3rd wicket partnership set a solid foundation. However, Angelo Mathews striking two deadly blows removing Shakib and Shanto in quick succession caused a bit of jitters. However, Mahmudullah Riad (22) and Towhid Hridoy (15*) batting sensibly managed to get Bangladesh across scoring 282/7 in 41.1 Overs. This Bangladesh win has given a new lease of life to Bangladesh getting elevated to 7th position above Sri Lanka, Netherlands, and England. The last group matches will matter. Teams must finish within 8 with Pakistan added for playing in the Champions trophy 2025. Bangladesh will play against Australia at Pune on November 11.
The win was a saving grace for Bangladesh.
BDST: 0950 HRS, NOV 07, 2023
SMS
