Tigers rue dropped chances as they lose to Sri Lanka

Bangladesh rued their missed chances in the field as they succumbed to a five-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in their opening match of the Super 12 stage in Sharjah on Sunday.

Batting first, Bangladesh put up a strong 171-4 courtesy of fifties from Mohammad Naim (61) and Mushfiqur Rahim, who got out of his bad patch right in time to score a brilliant unbeaten 57 off 37.

In reply, the Tigers had Sri Lanka reeling at one point at 79-4. But from there on, Charith Asalanka (80*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (53) took the game away from Bangladesh as they put up an 86-run stand of 52 deliveries to ensure that Sri Lanka got off to a winning start in the Super 12.

Bangladesh though, have only themselves to blame. Liton Das dropped two golden opportunities to remove both Asalanka and Rajapaksa but spilled them both to give the batsmen a lifeline, and they took full advantage of it.

The first came in the 13th over when Rajapaksa was on just 14. He tried to slog sweep Afif Hossain, but the mistimed shot found Liton at the boundary, who misjudged the ball to drop the catch and turn it into a four.

The next came a couple of overs later when Asalanka handed Liton a dolly at deep cover off Mustafizur Rahman, but he managed to spill it once again.

Mahmudullah Riyad also has to take some blame as he did not utilize Shakib Al Hasan during overs 9-16.

Shakib had picked up two wickets in the ninth over, and then when he got the ball in the 17th, the game was all but gone for Bangladesh.

Mahmudullah also brought him on twice, despite overs of Shakib and Nasum Ahmed remaining, and went on to concede 21 runs. After getting put into bat first, Bangladesh managed to get a good start from their openers for the first time in this World Cup. Naim and Liton put together a 40-run stand before Lahiru Kumara sent Liton (16) back in the final over of the powerplay.

Shakib (10) did not last long after a couple of beautiful boundaries as his leg stump was knocked back by Chamika Karunaratne. Naim brought up his second fifty of the World Cup and fourth overall off 44 deliveries and put up a 73-run stand with Mushfiq before he was sent back by Binura Fernando.

Mushfiq reached his fifty off just 32 deliveries, continuing his brilliant record against Sri Lanka. Mushfiq and Mahmudullah Riyad (10*) put together 21 runs in the final nine deliveries of the innings to take Bangladesh to 171-4.