T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka's Qualification Hopes Dwindle After Loss to Bangladesh
Where was the game won?
At the death. After 14 overs, Sri Lanka were well placed at 100/3. Even though the surface wasn't a placid one, Sri Lanka would have still hoped to post at least 150 on the board with seven wickets in hand. However, a double-wicket over from Rishad turned things around as the 2014 champions crumbled to add only 24 more runs in the final six overs.
Sri Lanka
Powerplay: The only phase dominated by Sri Lanka
Phase Score: 53/2 (RR: 8.83, 4s/6s: 9/1)
This was Sri Lanka's most productive phase in the entire game. This should have set the tone for a substantial fighting total. Even though they lost Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis in the powerplay, Pathum Nissanka kept Sri Lanka going with a flurry of boundaries. The highlight was Nissanka taking apart Shakib Al Hasan for four boundaries in a single over.
Middle overs: Bangladesh fight back
Phase Score: 50/2 (RR: 5.55, 4s/6s: 3/1)
As long as Nissanka was batting out in the middle, Sri Lanka were in a very good position. The opener ensured the boundaries kept coming post the powerplay too. However, he tried to play one shot too many as Mustafizur got rid of him with a slower delivery. That wicket changed the complexion of the game as Bangladesh fought back strong. The boundaries dried up and the run rate in this phase didn't even go past six. To make matters worse, they lost two crucial wickets in that 15th over as Rishad Hossain was rewarded for some outstanding bowling. The leg-spinner got the big wicket of Charith Asalanka and the decision to keep a slip fielder worked too as Wanindu Hasaranga edged one to the fielder first ball.
Death overs: The Lankan collapse
Phase Score: 21/4 (RR: 4.1, 4s/6s: 1/0)
Those numbers above tell the whole story. Only one boundary was hit at the death. And even that boundary came courtesy of a misfield. That's how poor Sri Lanka were at the back end of their innings. Rishad continued to impress and got Dhananjaya de Silva stumped and Taskin Ahmed ensured Dasun Shanaka didn't tee off. Angelo Mathews couldn't fire as well at the death as Sri Lanka ended up with just 124 on the board.
Bangladesh
Powerplay: Top-order woes continue for Bangladesh
Phase Score: 34/3 (RR: 5.66, 4s/6s: 2/0)
Coming into the contest, the focus from a Bangladesh perspective was their top order. And they failed to fire yet again. Soumya Sarkar was dismissed for a duck in the first over and Nuwan Thushara got one full delivery to swing back in beautifully to castle Tanzid Hasan. The first boundary of the innings came off the 30th delivery and that was off a top edge. The under-pressure Litton Das managed to evade through this phase but Thushara managed to get rid of Najmul Shanto as well to leave Bangladesh reeling at 34/3.
Middle overs: The game-changing cameo
Phase Score: 66/2 (RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 1/5)
In a low-scoring game, all it takes is a few big hits for the pendulum to swing. In the larger scheme of things, it's safe to say that Towhid Hridoy's cameo proved to be the difference-maker. After smashing Hasaranga for a six initially, Hridoy saw Litton rock back and pull Matheesha Pathirana for a big one as well as Bangladesh grew in confidence. Sri Lanka were then dented heavily by Hridoy's onslaught against Hasaranga as he slammed the leggie for three successive sixes. The skipper then managed to trap him lbw but by then, Bangladesh needed only 34 off 50 balls. Hasaranga though gave his side a glimmer of hope by also trapping Litton
