SL VS BAN - 6th Match, India and Bangladesh in Sri Lanka T20I Tri-Series, 2018

Seen anything from the Rajshri Productions? If this match were a movie, it would be one of them. Think about the home crowd that goes back all teary-eyed; or Sri Lanka who couldn't even qualify for a tournament final being played in the honour of their independence; or Bangladesh, who were passionately rowdy teen-like. Phew, this has been quite a game. Not sure I'm ready for an India-Bangladesh final, which is on Sunday (March 18). We'll see you there anyway; that's what we do. Until then, this is Pratyush Sinha logging out with Raju Peethala, Nikhil Jadhav, Ramakrishnan, Vineet Anantharaman and Venkatesh. Catch your breath, will ya, ta-ta!

Shakib - captain, Bangladesh: "You can't expect more than that in a T20 game. There was everything. Emotions, drama, everything. We are lucky to be on the winning side. Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera batted very well, got themselves into a winning position. I had only one hit before I came into the game, so I knew I wasn't 100%. It was important to rotate the strike and give it to Mahmudullah. This is one of our best innings in the last five overs. We always had a healthy competition on the ground (with Sri Lanka); outside, we are friends. Emotions take over sometimes. I need to be careful as the captain and the leader of the team. India are a very good side but we have the momentum, so hopefully we can continue the performance. Hopefully the Sri Lankan crowd can come and support us (laughs innocently)."

Perera - captain, Sri Lanka: "Very tough game. Really disappointed. I have to say something about our crowd -- thanks for everything. I'm sorry about not making it to the final. I sometimes take some time for my batting, I can do something only after that (what went wrong). 160 is a reasonable target. Last few series, we did well. Really good outcome from our juniors."

Mahmudullah - Player of the Match: "One of my best innings. when Shakib came into the team, that was a big boost. Players were eager to do well today. My plan was to strike the ball as hard as I can. To see the ball properly and try to hit accordingly. I was quite nervous (in the last few overs). When I and Shakib were there, I was at ease but Shakib's wicket put pressure on me. Other guys came up to me and believed that we'll do it. The confusion was that the ball (Mustafizur's wicket ball) would be the first bumper of the over but it's in the past now, so let's forget it."

Tears in the crowd that's going back quick.. Here we are with the presentations

SHIVCHARAN: I just can't believe what i saw through my eyes. Is it Mahmudullah who got angry? Through these years, I haven't seen him in such a state. he was raged and so does Shakib. Both of them are Gentlemen of cricket . It's such a shame to see them lose their cool.

Tamim: "It's very emotional. We saw the leg umpire signalling a no ball and that's why we were complaining. That created the confusion. It's a gentleman's game, everyone should have behaved better, especially from our team, we could have done it nicely. It's all done and dusted now. Sri Lankans are great friends. I don't think this incident will create anything bad. The last six was unbelievable. I am lost for words. I thought I should have continued a bit longer, but in the end we won. We executed the plans given by the coaches. Thisara and Kusal batted brilliantly. They gave us a challenging total, but we finished well."

I mean Sri Lanka tried their best. They were 41/5 inside 10 overs and then somehow, miraculously, thanks to the Pereras, racked up 159 that Bangladesh only chased down with a ball to spare. When Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar lost their wickets in consecutive overs, it looked like Bangladesh had undone all the hard work. But Mahmudullah, unburdened from the labours of captaincy today, stood through all that and hauled his side into the finale. How about that. There was drama around how Mustafizur's wicket-ball was a no-ball, Shakib even took his team off the ground, only for them to return and see a win. How about that!

10:32pm local: Look at Mahmudullah, look at him celebrating! He's pumped up. Runs around, fist-pumps and screams in delight. He's calling out to the heavens! And now they all go up, his team-mates, both palms reverse-cupped, fingers curled and waving, not for the catch but celebrating. Gee, it's an invasion by the snake dance, which's become quite a fad now (there were posters tonight in the crowd, I swear). And where's Shakib's t-shirt? Fast forward a minute and here's Tamim, with his hands around Mendis's shoulders to calm him down. Guess there's some words exchanged between him and Sabbir. It's difficult sometimes to comprehend the emotions but try telling that a sportsman.

Udana to Mahmudullah, SIX, Bangladesh win it! Wow. This is unbelievable. Quite against the run of play. Bowled slow and full on middle, Mahmudullah nonchalantly picks it over deep square leg. All the way. Look at the celebrations.. they are playing India in the final after all!

Udana to Mahmudullah, 2 runs, Kusal Perera misses a run out opportunity. Low full toss flicked to deep square, it's a flat throw to the keeper, who's not exactly at the stumps. Tries to parry the throw onto the stumps but Mahmudullah comes running back for the second. Dives his way back in. Oh, Kusal. 6 needed

Udana to Mahmudullah, FOUR, that's a wide if Mahmudullah had left it. But Mahmudullah stretches across, like spandex, and mauls it one-handed over extra cover; one bounce over the ropes. 8 needed off 3

Great, the players are back. Nice to see.

Oh dear, this isn't pretty. Umpire steps in to diffuse the tension. Shakib's furious at the boundary rope about something and .. there you go .. he's calling the Bangladeshi batsmen back. When Mustafizur got out, a couple of subs from the Bangladesh substitites, in yellow tees, came out and got into a verbal fight with Thisara Perera. That's what Shakib, and the unbeaten Mahmudullah, are not happy about. Is the debate about the height of the ball, is it? Looks like it. Apparently, the square leg umpire stretched his arm to signal a no-ball, but eventually they deemed it as a legal delivery once Mustafizz got run out. That seemed to have raised temperatures in the Bangladesh dressing room and thus, Shakib fumed at the umpires before asking his batsmen to walk back to the dressing room

Rubel Hossain, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Udana to Mustafizur, out Mustafizur Run Out!! This is crazy. A review off the first ball, so that was a dot, and now a wicket in the form of run out off this, so this one's too. Mustafizur in no position to pull. goes for it, misses and runs. Keeper parries the ball to the bowler, who's halfway down the pitch and runs back to dislodge the bails. 12 needed off 4 balls now. Mustafizur run out (Kusal Perera/Udana) 0(2)

Udana to Mustafizur, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Udana to Mustafizur, no run, we have a review here by Sri Lanka. Front-footed pull that they think the batsman has top-edged behind. Clear flat line on the snicko, so not out. That's a dot ball, more importantly. 12 needed off 5

Mustafizur Rahman, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Perera to Mehidy Hasan, out Mehidy Hasan Run Out!! Direct-hit at the bowler's end. Mehidy Hasan looks like is gone and gets a lashing from Mahmudullah, who's very animated and handsy. Yeah, confirmed run out -- replays confirm it, and so does the third ump. Got his front leg out of a very full ball and drilled it to mid-off, intending a run. Goes for it, runs to the danger end and perishes to a direct-hit there. Can understand the panic but Bangladesh only making it worse for themselves. Mahmudullah is not happy one bit. He kept slamming Mehidy's wrists (although a glancing blow) while waiting for the verdict from the TV umpire. Mehidy Hasan run out (Shanaka) 0(1)

Perera to Mehidy Hasan, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!