SL VS BAN - 5th Match, Group B, Asia Cup 2022

Sri Lanka have pulled off a heist! They march on to the Super Fours at the expense of Bangladesh. Join us tomorrow to find out who will be the final team to make it there - will it be Pakistan or Hong Kong? See you then, for now it's a wrap from me, Saurabh, signing off on behalf of Akshay, Nikhil and Siva!

Kusal Mendis, Player of the Match: First six overs, I went with my normal game and then the next four overs, I went with my shots. (On the no ball) It was a good option, I got to bat again. I had two chances, so today was my day. I got to 60 runs and did the best for my team. I have had practice in Sri Lanka for the last six months to a year, everyday I am learning and I know what the team wants from me. Thank you very much for the support, Sri Lankan fans!

Dasun Shanaka: At the middle period, I thought it was tough. But when myself and Kusal were batting, I thought it was achievable. I think the openers did a good job, we discussed that we needed that opening partnership for the start. Today, that was the key and that's why we chased down this total. I thought of promoting myself, but from the team's point I have to sacrifice to come down and play as a finisher. My first priority is for the team. I think Chamika's run out, we thought the game was gone. But Asitha Fernando scored those two shots very well, these guys have so much potential. It is lovely to see.

Shakib Al Hasan: I think a few poor overs cost us the game. In the last over they were 8 down, but they got there with four balls in hand. That shows we aren't bowling well in the death, but credit to Sri Lanka for the way they batted. I think Dasun did very well. We wanted to pick wickets early, but the bowlers couldn't execute their plans and that's why the spinner bowled the last over. The last six months we haven't played well, but we have been competitive in these last two games. World Cup will be a different challenge now, we have to improve. We feel sorry for our fans, everywhere we go we get such superb support.

Chris Silverwood, Sri Lanka coach: Obviously with the batting there (won us the game), a couple of big overs under our belt, Mendis doing well and the skipper (Shanaka) coming to the party. Probably 2-3 overs in the game where we took the game away from them, we managed to hang in with the rate all the way along, Bangladesh never got in front of us and that was great. (The message to the batters) Was to be calm, it is a good surface here and we knew we could get runs, if you keep wickets in hand then you can score heavily in the last 10 overs. There is no rocket science, just suggestions to the captain on what would be a good match up, there are a lot of teams doing that now and nothing more (referring to the placards while Sri Lanka were bowling).

STAT: Highest targets succesfully chased in UAE
184 SL vs Ban Dubai 2022 *
180 Afg vs UAE Dubai 2016
177 Aus vs Pak Dubai 2021
173 Aus vs NZ Dubai 2021
172 SL vs Ban Sharjah 2021

Highest targets succesfully chased by Sri Lanka
194 vs Ban Mirpur 2018
184 vs Ban Dubai 2022 *
177 vs Aus Pallekele 2022
175 vs Ind Colombo RPS 2018

21:52 Local Time, 17:52 GMT, 23:22 IST: What a match! Two teams that were desperate to qualify, two teams that were eager to prove a point after being humbled by Afghanistan. Sadly, only one can go through in cricket, and for today it will be Sri Lanka who piggyback over Bangladesh's indisciplined bowling to get over the line. Bangladesh pacers Ebadot and Taskin troubled Lanka's top-order, as they were reduced to 77/4 after nine overs. But opener Kusal Mendis with skipper Dasun Shanaka propelled a fightback. It was calculated aggression at the finest from Sri Lanka, as they stayed ahead of the curb despite losing wickets. Ebadot, who on debut, picked three wickets in his first two overs, conceded 22 in his third over, and that really titled the game. Bangladesh were superb in the field, holding onto tough catches to dismiss Mendis and Shanaka at the end, but the chasing side found another hero in Chamika Karunaratne. He too couldn't stay till the end, but by the time he was dismissed, the equation was down to just 13 runs. A bit of bold batting, coupled with some gifts in the form of too many no balls helped Sri Lanka get through. They will fight on as Bangladesh have plenty to reflect on their flight back home, despite such a spirited showing today. Stick around for what the skippers have to say during the presentation.

Mahedi Hasan to Asitha Fernando, no ball, 2 runs, what a goof up by Mahedi!! Fired fuller on middle, Fernando hits it straight on the leg-side. Long-on is too wide and the batters can come back for the second. Another no-ball as well and this one means the game ends with four balls to spare!! Scenes of mad celebration from the Sri Lankan camp, they have pulled through for a record chase and scrape into the Super Fours!

Mahedi Hasan to Asitha Fernando, FOUR, Asitha Fernando would have been dreaming for such a situation on T20 debut!! Pitched up, in the slot for a big slog and he gives it an almighty swing through cow corner. One bounce and four

Mahedi Hasan to M Theekshana, leg byes, 1 run, fired into the pads, Theekshana steps out for a big heave and can only get a leg bye towards short third-man

8 needed off the last over. Mahedi will bowl this!! But the big thing is Bangladesh have been penalised for slow over-rate. They need to have an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle. Advantage Sri Lanka!

Ebadot Hossain to Asitha Fernando, FOUR, priceless! Pitched on a length around off, Fernando swings for the hills and manages to get this over the infield on the off side. No fielders in the deep and that's a boundary towards deep extra.

Ebadot Hossain to Asitha Fernando, wide, wide yorker, ends on the wrong side of the white line!!

Asitha Fernando, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Ebadot Hossain to M Theekshana, out Karunaratne Run Out!! Suicidal from Sri Lanka!! If they lose this from here, this run out footage will be scanned over and over again. Back of a length on the body, Theekshana just about fends it off towards covers. Non striker Karunaratne needlessly takes off for the single when the ball went directly towards Shakib. He has all the time in the world to compose himself for a direct hit. The man who is better with the bat is walking off, we have a nail bitter on the cards! Karunaratne run out (Shakib) 16(10) [4s-1]

Ebadot Hossain to M Theekshana, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Ebadot Hossain to Karunaratne, leg byes, 1 run, hits the deck hard and on the body, off the thigh pad towards short fine

Ebadot Hossain to Karunaratne, 2 runs, full and straight, slammed straight over the bowler's head. The fielder can't hold onto the catch but he's saved a couple of runs, throwing the ball away before stepping outside the boundary ropes

Ebadot Hossain to Karunaratne, no ball, FOUR, another twist? Length ball outside off, Karunaratne shuffles inwards to show the bowler all his stumps, and then scoops this to the left of short fine. And to add insult to injury, it is a free hit!!

Ebadot Hossain to Karunaratne, 2 runs, length ball on leg, glanced towards mid-wicket and immediately Karunaratne says he wants two. He runs quickly but the throw is wide and at the wrong end. Had it been on the bowler's end it could have been a wicket