The Asia Cup 2018 got underway with Bangladesh taking on Sri Lanka in Dubai in the first match. If the match were to be played a decade ago, Sri Lanka would have been the clear favorites. But the times have changed. Going by the recent form, Bangladesh started with the upper hand and indeed they pulled off an easy win.
The Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and opted to bat in the scorching heat. The comeback-man Lasith Malinga wreaked havoc in the opposition camp initially. He sent back Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan in the very first over. It went from bad to worse for Bangladesh as Tamim Iqbal got injured and broke his wrist and had to retire hurt.
After being virtually 3 wickets down for a solitary run, they were in a spot of bother. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun brought some solidity to the innings and built a solid partnership. They bailed the side out of trouble with a stand of 133. Mithun departed after scoring 63 in the 26th over.
Mushfiqur Rahim notched up a superb ton
From that point onwards, it was all about Rahim who kept the side in the hunt. Wickets kept falling at the other end but he stood firm and scored his 6th ODI century. The score reached 229/9 in the 47th over when Mustafizur Rahman got out. Tamim Iqbal, who was earlier seen with a plaster in his left hand, walked out to bat against all expectations.
Watch the video of Tamim Iqbal batting with one hand here
He kept one ball out with just one hand. Rahim then took over and collected 32 runs to propel Bangladesh to 261. He was the last man to fall after scoring 144 off 150 balls. It was a brilliant recovery by the side who was tottering at one stage. The moment of inspiration came from Tamim that swung the game in his side’s favor.
It wasn’t a huge score to chase and all Sri Lanka was a good opening partnership. Upul Tharanga began with a bang and got to 21 in no time. But his partner Kusal Mendis was trapped in front by Mustafizur in the 2nd over. That was the opening Bangladesh needed. Mortaza accounted for Tharanga’s and Dhananjaya de Silva’s wickets soon.
Mehidy Hasan sent back Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka fell for a run-out. The last hope for Sri Lanka also sank when Rubel Hossain removed Angelo Mathews in the 18th over as the score read 63/6. The formality then completed quickly and Sri Lanka was bowled out for 124 in the 35.2 overs.
Match Summary
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first
Bangladesh: 261/10 in 49.3 overs
Mushfiqur Rahim 144 (150), Mohammad Mithun 63 (68)
Lasith Malinga 23/4 (10), Dhananjaya de Silva 38/2 (7)
Sri Lanka: 124/10 in 35.2 overs
Dilruwan Perera 29 (44), Upul Tharanga 27 (16)
Mustafizur Rahman 20/2 (6), Mehidy Hasan 21/2 (7)
Bangladesh won by 137 runs
Player of the Match: Mushfiqur Rahim
Here’s how Twitter hailed Bangladesh and Mushfiqur Rahim
If the #BANvSL match were to be played a decade ago, SL would have been the clear favorites. But the times have changed. @BCBtigers are much better than @OfficialSLC at the moment.
Well played @mushfiqur15 but the hero of the game was @TamimOfficial28 #AsiaCup2018— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) September 15, 2018
This is international cricket but you would never believe it if you saw the catches put down today…. #AsiaCup2018
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 15, 2018
Mushfiqur….No Fikar. What. A. Knock. Best by a Bangladesh batsman in ODI cricket. Walked in it to save the hattrick…last man to get out. Well played. #AsiaCup #SLvBan
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/cricprabhu/status/1041026126066249728?s=12
https://twitter.com/im_SalmanButt/status/1041028129907720192
Fighting knock from #mushfiqur @BCBtigers haven’t been short of spirit in this game, excellent come backs with in this game, giving it all they got #SLvsBAN #Asiacup2018
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) September 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/MahelaJay/status/1041006252195766272
What a great start on his comeback match !!!! Always a pleasure to watch him. #lasithmalinga #AsiaCup2018 🔥
— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) September 15, 2018
Total 100s by wicket-keepers in #AsiaCup (9)
4 – Kumar Sangakkara
1 – Rahul Dravid/MS Dhoni/Umar Akmal/Anamul Haque/Mushfiqur Rahim #AsiaCup2018 #SLvBan#BanvSL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/usamaa_akbar/status/1040979764524265472
Mushfiqur Rahim you're awesome #BANvSL
— Aleya Virk (@Aleya_Virk) September 15, 2018
Mathews is too low at 5. Just like Misbah was for Pakistan. If you’re the best batsman in the side, you ought to bat in the top 4 in a 50-over game. #AsiaCup #SLvBan
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 15, 2018
There should be a Men of the match award tonight for their otherworldly effort @TamimOfficial28 @mushfiqur15 rather than just the Man of the match. Keep it up @BCBtigers #BANvsSL #AsiaCup2018
— Inzamam Ul Haque (@TweetZamam) September 15, 2018
#IPL franchises should be seriously looking at Mushfiqur Rahim… This guy can really bat, if you can discount his "nagin" dance!#AsiaCup2018 #SLvBan#BanvSL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 15, 2018
#TamimIqbal Won the hearts & #mushfiqurrahim won the match#Bangladesh #BANvsSL pic.twitter.com/eatjgRPLx9
— Waseem Akram (@Waseem_says) September 15, 2018
Mushfiqur Rahim 144
Only Virat Kohli 183 has made a higher score in #AsiaCup#AsiaCup2018 #SLvBan#BanvSL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1040984257542316037?s=12
1st Over: 1…WW
Malinga Slinga Is Back With A Bang👏🙏
Tough Day For Nagins 🐍🐍🐍#AsiaCup #BANvSL #SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/Htxb0O07fH
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 15, 2018
Oh what a feeling to see him back in the Sri Lankan attire, kissing the new ball, marking his run up and more importantly picking wickets! ⚡
Welcome back, Slinga 💙#BANvSL #AsiaCup #CricketMeriJaan pic.twitter.com/KG2nTN7HE4
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 15, 2018
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