Asalanka knocks down Bangladesh

Sharjah, October 24

Young left-hander Charith Asalanka smashed an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls while fellow southpaw Bhanuka Rajapaksa made a quickfire half-century as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by five wickets in their T20 World Cup Super 12 Group 1 match here today.

Chasing 172 for victory, Sri Lanka suffered a mid-innings batting collapse but recovered in time to reach the target with seven balls to spare. This was made possible by brilliant half-centuries from Asalanka and Rajapaksa (53 off 31 balls), with the duo adding 86 runs for the fifth wicket in jus 8.4 overs.

The 24-year-old Asalanka, who had played just eight ODIs and four T20Is before today, held the Sri Lanka innings together, hitting five fours and as many sixes in his entertaining knock. Coming to the middle in the 10th over, the 30-year-old Rajapaksa smashed three fours and as many sixes in his 31-ball innings as Sri Lanka reached 172/5 in 18.5 overs.

Dropped chances

Bangladesh would be disappointed with their shoddy outfielding as Litton Das dropped regulation catches off both Rajapaksa and Asalanka. When the chase began, Bangladesh got the breakthrough with the fourth delivery itself as left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed got rid of opener Kusal Perera (1), who failed to read a quicker delivery and was bowled. Asalanka, however, got the boundaries with ease, hoisting Nasum for two sixes to take Sri Lanka to 54/1 at the end of the Powerplay. — PTI