By IANS,
Mirpur (Dhaka) : Bangladesh restricted Sri Lanka to 232 in a must-win Asia Cup tie at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here Tuesday. A Bangladesh win will knock out India from the tournament.
Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 32 for three in 10 overs before Chamara Kapugedera (62), Lahiru Thirimanne (48) and Upul Tharanga (48) took the team to a fighting total.
Medium pacer Nazmul Hossain (3/32) removed Sri Lanka’s high-profile top-order while left-arm spinners Abdur Razzak (2/44) and Shakib Al Hasan (2/56) were effective in the middle overs.
Sri Lanka are already out of the competition after losing to India and Pakistan.
Bangladesh, electing to field, looked a team with a purpose. Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene (5) missed a straight one off Hossain to be bowled in the fourth over while opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan (19) played on attempting a cut shot. Kumar Sangakkara (6) also fell while trying to hit on the up, getting caught at extra cover.
Kapudgedera then forged partnerships with Thirimanne and Tharanga, sharing 88 and 49 runs for the fourth and fifth wicket.
Both Kapugedera and Thirimanne had to work hard for every run against the Bangladesh spinners. Kapudera’s 92-ball innings saw only four boundaries while the Southpaw consumed 73 balls, hitting just three fours.
With Thirimanne back in the hut at 120 for four, Tharanga came out with an aggressive intent. He scored at more than a run a ball, striking five fours and a six.