Asia Cup | Saif and Hridoy help Bangladesh edge Sri Lanka  

The spectacle of 360-degree hitting may appeal to the senses, but conventional clean striking can do the job just as well. Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy’s fifties were a testament to this as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first Super Four match of the Asia Cup here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Saif brought up his fifty off 36 balls, but his intent was on display as early as the third over when he deposited the slingy Nuwan Thushara for a four and a six down the ground. He also showed deft footwork in laying into Dunith Wellalage’s left-arm spin with two sixes, going straight and then inside-out.

Following Saif’s dismissal, Hridoy took up the cause. He greeted Kamindu Mendis with two fours and a six – driving, pulling, and cutting.

After scoring a scorching fifty with the bat, it was again down to Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka to summon some magic. Left with just four runs to defend in the final over, Shanaka jolted Bangladesh twice in three balls, but it wasn’t enough.

Earlier, Sri Lanka shot off the blocks, crawled through the middle, and raced to the finish line to post a competitive total.

Having blazed through the PowerPlay, the Lankans eked out only 45 runs in the next eight overs before Shanaka turned the screws with a 30-ball fifty.

Skipper Charith Asalanka chipped in with a handy 12-ball 21 to inject momentum into the innings. However, Mustafizur Rahman’s three-wicket 19th over, which included Asalanka’s run out, stopped Sri Lanka from inflicting too much damage.

Considering the head start provided by its openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka would have hoped for more.

Ahead of the match, the spotlight was on Wellalage, who showed exemplary courage to overcome the death of his father two days ago and took the field.

The scores: Sri Lanka 168/7 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 34, Dasun Shanaka 64 n.o., Mahedi Hasan 2/25, Mustafizur Rahman 3/20) lost to Bangladesh 169/6 in 19.5 overs (Saif Hassan 61, Towhid Hridoy 58, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/22, Dasun Shanaka 2/21). Toss: Bangladesh; PoM: Saif.