Sri Lanka became the second team after Afghanistan to qualify for the Asia Cup 2022 Super 4s from Group B as they defeated Bangladesh by two wickets in a nail-biter on Thursday (September 1).

Asked to bat first, Bangladesh posted 183/7 on the board with vital contributions from Afif Hossain (39 off 22 balls), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (38 off 26 balls), and Mosaddek Hossain (24* off 9 balls).

Maheesh Theekshana (1-23) and Dilshan Madushanka (1-26) took one wicket each and were economical with the ball while Chamika Karunaratne (2-32) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2-41) picked two scalps each.

In reply, Kusal Mendis (60 off 37 balls) anchored the chase for Sri Lanka at the top while skipper Dasun Shanaka played a brilliant knock of 33-ball 45 in the middle order. The duo shared a match-defining 54-run stand for the fifth wicket.

However, Sri Lanka lost the plot once Mendis got out and it seemed that Shanaka’s wicket in the 18th over was the final nail in the coffin. But there was a twist in the tale as tail-enders Chamika Karunaratne (16 off 10 balls) and Asitha Fernando (10* off 3 balls) produced stunning cameos in the death overs to take Sri Lanka over the line with four deliveries to spare.

After knocking Bangladesh out in a thriller, the Sri Lankan team had a crazy Nagin dance celebration in the dressing room. Chamika Karunaratne led the Nagin dance celebration, mimicking Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim’s celebration from the 2018 Nidahas Trophy.

Here’s the video: