Bangladesh secured a thrilling two-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in Texas, marking a successful start in Group D of the T20 World Cup.
Rishad Hossain delivered an outstanding performance with his leg-spin, helping Bangladesh restrict Sri Lanka to 124-9.
Liton Das (36) and Towhid Hridoy (40 from 20 balls) then led Bangladesh’s charge before Nuwan Thushara’s (4-18) impressive pace bowling added some drama to the match.
However, the experienced Mahmudullah Riyad held his nerve and guided Bangladesh to victory with an unbeaten 16.
The match was the fourth game at the Grand Prairie Stadium, providing exciting entertainment to the Dallas crowd on a lively pitch.
Sri Lanka started strong, reaching 53-2 in six overs and progressing to 100-3 after 14 overs with Pathum Nissanka’s impressive 47 off 28 balls.
However, Rishad’s two wickets in successive balls turned the tide in Bangladesh’s favor, leading to Sri Lanka losing momentum.
Rishad finished with excellent T20I figures of 3-22 from his four overs, while Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed also contributed with their bowling performances.
In their chase, Bangladesh faced early struggles but a crucial partnership between Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy stabilized their innings.
Despite some late pressure from Thushara, Mahmudullah’s composed batting ensured Bangladesh’s victory.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, suffered their second consecutive loss in the tournament, with skipper Hasaranga emphasizing the need for better batting performances.
Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain praised his team’s effort and highlighted the contributions of Liton and Hridoy to the victory.
This win was a significant improvement for Bangladesh after a lackluster warm-up campaign, showcasing their determination in the tournament.
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