Tigers clinch thriller

FE Report | Published: March 16, 2018 23:49:57

Tigers captain Shakib Al Hasan celebrating with teammates after dismissal of Danushka Gunathilaka during the sixth T20 cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Nidahas Trophy at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday — AFP

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by two wickets on Friday in the sixth and crucial Twenty 20 match of the Nidahas Trophy tri-nation series, played at the R Premdasa Stadium in Colombo.
Mahmudullah Riyad hit the all-important sixer off the second last ball of the innings to clinch the win.
It was a must-win match for both Bangladesh and host Sri Lanka to play India in the finals. Earlier, Sri Lanka after a massive collapse of 41 for five made a comeback and scored 159 for 7 in 20 overs. The huge partnership between Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera of 91 runs made it possible.
Put in to bat, the hosts were reduced to 41-5 before Kusal, who made 61 off 40 balls, put on a crucial 97-run stand with stand-in skipper Thisara, who hit 58.
The left-handed duo thwarted the Bangladesh attack, which was bolstered by the return of captain and allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who got the first wicket with his left-arm spin. Both Kusal and Thisara hit the bowlers to all parts of the ground at the R. Premadasa Stadium, hitting 10 fours and four sixes between them.
Pace spearhead Mustafizur Rahman claimed two wickets but gave away 39 runs in his four overs despite bowling a maiden.