INDIA: Sri Lanka was eliminated from the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 as Bangladesh defeated them by 3 wickets with 53 balls remaining while chasing 280 runs.
Bangladesh, led by Shakib Al Hasan, bowled first at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium. After losing the toss, Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis stated he wouldn’t mind starting at bat and that his team would aim to score more than 300.
Shakib Al Hasan (82) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (90) of Bangladesh maintained a steady run rate with their partnership of 169 runs, despite the early losses of Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das.
Bangladesh finished the game in 41.1 overs with three wickets remaining, even though Shanto and Hasan were both out later, and the wickets continued to fall. Bangladesh not only prevailed in the game but also prevented Sri Lanka from making it to the World Cup Semi-Finals.
Dilshan Madushanka claimed three wickets for Sri Lanka, while Maheesh Theekshana and Angelo Mathews each claimed two. Following this victory, Sri Lanka dropped to eighth place with four points and an NRR of (-)1.160, while Bangladesh moved to seventh place with four points and an NRR of (-)1.142.
After Charith Asalanka hit a century to push his team’s score to 279 runs, Sri Lanka was all out. Tanzim Hasan Sakib took three wickets to help Bangladesh mount a comeback in the last over. Angelo Mathews came to the bat after Shakib Al Hasan had removed Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Sri Lanka lost two more wickets in rapid succession.
It took a long time for Angelo Mathews to get his helmet fixed, but in the meantime, Shakib Al Hasan requested a ‘time out’, and the umpires granted it. Bangladesh dominated because Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, and Kusal Mendis were sitting back in the dugout as their bowling struck out the top order of Sri Lanka. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka were the two new batsmen on the pitch.
Bangladesh won their initial match against Afghanistan, but they have lost six of their seven matches in this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup, which is a horrible start for them. Bangladesh lost badly to Pakistan in their most recent game as the bowlers failed to contain the run flow and the batsmen were removed for 204 runs, allowing the target to be reached in just 32.3 overs.
Also Read: India Advances to Semi-Finals with a Mammoth 302-run Victory over Sri Lanka
