In a nail-biting encounter, Bangladesh edged Sri Lanka past by two wickets to make a winning start to the T20 World Cup on Saturday at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
The victory came at a moment when hardly anyone put a bet on Bangladesh following their sub-standard performance ahead of the global event, reports BSS.
It was Bangladesh's only second victory over a higher ranked team in their T20 World Cup history since their win against West Indies in the inaugural edition in 2007.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the all-important toss and expectedly put Sri Lanka into bat first. The bowlers justified the decision right by restricting Sri Lanka to a below-par 124-9 and then overhauled the target with 125-8 in 19 overs by overcoming a massive adrenaline-pumping moment.
Pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3-17) and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (3-22) claimed three wickets apiece while fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who is playing his first game after recovering from the injury grabbed 2-25. Another pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib took 1-24.
While it looked like the bowlers were key behind the victory, it was Towhid Hridoy whose 20 ball-40 made all the difference in the low-scoring affair.
Later, Mahmudullah Riyad finished things off with a cool head when Sri Lanka looked all over on Bangladesh by taking some quick wickets.
Bangladesh made a disastrous start with Soumya Sarkar getting a second-ball-duck as he top-edged a Dhananjaya de Silva delivery to Wanindu Hasaranga at mid-on.
Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara who snapped up 4-18 dealt a double strike, taking out Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 3 and extending skipper Shanto's lean patch by dismissing him for 7.
Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy put on a 63-run for the fourth wicket which eventually became key behind Bangladesh's victory.
Hridoy hit one four and four sixes in his knock. He was dismissed by Hasanranga after hitting him three consecutive sixes.
Hasaranga also took the wicket of Liton Das who made 36 of 38. Thushara then came back with fire to take two wickets in consecutive deliveries before Matheesha Pathirana undid Shakib Al Hasan for 8.
As it looked like Bangladesh's victory was in a jeopardised state, Mahmudullah released the pressure by hitting Dasun Shanaka six with his side needing 11 from 12 balls with two wickets at hand.
However, Mahmudllah completed the victory in that penultimate over by holding his nerve well.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers put in a disciplined bowling effort to keep the side on the course of a victory.
Sri Lanka made a fluent start with Pathum Nissanka tearing apart Bangladesh bowlers in sensational batting.
Nissanka made a team-best 47 off 28 with seven fours and one six.
However, Taskin Ahmed broke through with the wicket of Kusal Mendis (10) who struck him consecutive two boundaries.
The introduction of Mustafizur brought Bangladesh back to the game as he got rid of Kamindu Mendis (4) and Nissanka in his consecutive overs.
With Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka giving Sri Lanka the ray of hope to regroup, Rishad dismantled them in a career-best bowling effort that saw him taking three wickets for just 22 runs.
Dhananjaya made 21 while Asalanka contributed 19.
Sri Lanka could never recover from the collapse as they lost wickets in clusters to be bowled out for a below-par total.
This was Sri Lanka's second consecutive defeat following its six-wicket loss to South Africa and it left their Super 8 hopes at peril.
PM congratulates Bangladesh team
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended her congratulations to the Bangladesh cricket team for their victory against Sri Lanka in their first T20 World Cup match, reports UNB.
Bangladesh triumphed over Sri Lanka by 2 wickets, with six balls remaining, in their opening match at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, USA.
