Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka expressed happiness after winning their ICC T20 World Cup 2021 clash against Bangladesh in Sharjah on October 24.
The Sri Lankan team displayed some high-quality cricket to clinch two important points in the Super 12s stage of the T20 World Cup 2021. Asked to bat first, Bangladesh got off to a brilliant start, scoring 40 runs for the opening partnership but on the last ball of power-play, they lost the wicket of Lion Das.
Sri Lanka made sure that they keep the momentum and sent Shakib Al Hasan back in the dressing room for just 10 runs. However, the duo of Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim took the attack to the bowlers and helped their team put a total of 171 runs.
Chasing the target, Sri Lanka was in a spot of bother as they lost the opener in the very first over of the innings. Charith Asalanka, who came to bat at No.3, stabilized the innings and scored unbeaten 80 runs to take his team home.
The southpaw stitched 94 runs partnership with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who scored 53 runs, and helped the team chase the target in 18.5 overs and skipper Dasun Shanaka admitted that it wasn’t the easiest target to chase.
He added that it was important for his team to start the Super 12s stage with a win and lauded the duo of Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa for their heroics with the bat.
"Not the easiest target to chase. It's all about boundaries. Once the batsman gets set, any target is chaseable. Really important to win the first game. They batted really well. Those knocks are brilliant (Asalanka and Rajapaksa)," Dasun Shanaka said after the match.
Sri Lanka will now face Australia in their next clash of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 on October 28, while Bangladesh will take on England on October 27.
(ANI inputs)
