Dubai: The Bangladeshi cricket team produced an all-round performance to wallop Sri Lanka by 137 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium here on Saturday. Winning the toss and electing to bat first on a flat track, Bangladesh suffered an early blow when opener Tamim Iqbal was hit on his wrist by Sri Lankan pacer Suranga Lakmal earlier in the game, effectively ruling out of the tournament. He left the field soon after, and medical scans later showed that he suffered a fracture.
Coupled with this, Liton Das and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan were sent back to the pavilion without scoring by Sri Lankan pace spearhead Lasith Malinga in the fifth and sixth balls of the first over to leave Bangladesh reeling at 3 for 2. Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun joined forces and the duo stabilised Bangladesh’s innings. The two batsmen took advantage of the conditions, playing attacking shots and milking runs to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Sharing a 133-run partnership, Rahim and Mithun steered Bangladesh out of trouble and punished the Sri Lankan bowlers, who erred in their lengths. Malinga finally provided a breakthrough for Sri Lanka and soon after, Bangladesh lost a cluster of wickets in the mid-overs to collapse from a well-set position. However, Rahim stayed put and kept on pushing the scoreboard, as he recorded his sixth ODI century in style, courtesy a boundary from Lakmal.
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