Shakib, Shanto snap Bangladesh’s losing streak in World Cup

Captain Shakib Al Hasan led the side with a stellar allround performance as Bangladesh snapped its six-match losing streak in the ICC Cricket World Cup with a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi today.

His two wickets for 57 runs and 65 ball-82, laced with 12 fours and two sixes, were instrumental in the victory which kept Bangladesh aloft for a spot in Champions Trophy after the hopes for a World Cup semifinal was ruined.

He was unsurprisingly was adjudged man of the match, which made him the first Bangladeshi player to get the award in two World Cups.

Najmul Hossain Shanto complemented his performance with 90 runs as Bangladesh hunted down Sri Lanka 279 (all out in 49.3 overs), with 282-7, leaving 53 balls unused.

The game became heated following Angelo Mathews’s ‘timed out’ dismissal during Sri Lanka’s innings. He took the time more than two minutes to be at the crease because of the broken strap of his helmet.

According to ICC playing conditions, opposition captain could appeal for dismissal if a batter takes more than two minutes to be at the crease. Sharp-minded Shakib Al Hasan took the advantage to dismiss Mathews, much to the despair of the Lankan players and fans.

It led to a sledging between the two teams and particularly Shakib was targeted while he was in the crease. However the captain’s master class was accompanied by an astute serenity that made the victory almost cake-walk.

Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim in the third over of the chase after he scored 9 runs but Liton Das hit two fours and as many sixes to give the side a flying start.

Dilshan Madushanka trapped him leg-before, bringing Shakib to the crease amid a huge sledging. The under pressure skipper following the side’s dismal World Cup show was hardly bothered as he went high gear from the outset to keep Lankan bowlers at bay.

His innings was not chanceless as he survived at the early in his innings due to the butter-fingered Sri Lankan fielders.

After his six-single digit figure, Shanto finally got his rhythm as he joined Shakib in accelerating the innings. The duo stitched 169-run for the third wicket to edge the side closer to the victory.

However one shot too many led Shakib’s dismissal, that too off the bowling of Mathews who unsurprisingly gave Shakib an angry send-off.

Soon after the dismissal of Shakib who now stayed century-less since the 2019 World Cup, Shanto who hit a half-century in six-wicket win against Afghanistan in Bangladesh’s first match, missed out his first World Cup ton by 10 runs. Mathews again was the bowler as he rattled Shanto’s stump with scrambled seam.

Shanto hit 12 fours in his 101 balls knock. But Shakib’s whirlwind batting ensured the asking run rate was under control. Bangladesh then lost Mahmudullah Riyad (22), Mushfiqur Rahim (10) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3) cheaply but didn’t find it tough to seal the deal with ease. Towhid Hridoy was not out on 15.

Earlier Charith Asalanka guided the side with his second ton, a 105 ball-108, studded with six fours and five sixes.

Opener Pathum Nissanka made next-best 41 while Dhananjaya de Silva scored 34.

Nissanka kept the side rolling after the dismissal of Kusal Perera (4) for single digit figure by pacer Shoriful Islam. Shakib got into act with the wicket of Kusal Mendis who made 19.

Sri Lanka got further setback when Tanzim Hasan Sakib who made his World Cup debut, got the better of Nissanka, leaving them at 72-3.

Asalanka took the onus and got an able support from Sadeera Samawickrama. Shakib returned and broke the dangerous partnership after they added 63 runs for the fourth wicket. Mathews was ‘timed out’ thereafter and Sri Lanka were at tricky 135-5.

As Bangladesh sensed a chance to bowl Sri Lankan out cheaply, Asalanka again resisted with the support from Dhananjaya. Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke through after they shared 68-run for the sixth wicket.

Asalanka drove the side past 250 and got out in the penultimate over by Tanzim Sakib who took three wickets on debut but was expensive as he conceded 80 runs in his 10 overs. (BSS)