Tigers stumble in asia cup opener0

Yesterday, Najmul Hossain Shanto scored the most runs for Bangladesh with an 89-run effort.

After a dismal batting performance in Pallekele yesterday, Bangladesh lost to co-hosts Sri Lanka by five wickets to begin their Asia Cup campaign in a terrible way.

Najmul Hossain Shanto scored an impressive 89 runs off of 122 balls, but the Tigers were bowled out for a pitiful 164 runs in only 42.4 overs. Despite losing a few wickets early on and faltering late, Sri Lanka was able to win with 66 balls remaining because there was no pressure on the scoreboard.

As Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and captain Shakib Al Hasan dismissed the Sri Lankan top order, reducing them to three for 43 in 9.2 overs, hopes were heightened in the Bangladeshi camp.

But Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka put up a fourth-wicket partnership that was almost unbreakable, scoring 78 runs.

Asalanka was undefeated on 62 off 92 deliveries and Samarawickrama hit his fourth fifty in an ODI, a 77-ball 54, as the reigning champions got off to a great start in the six-nation competition.

Shakib and his team will be under a lot of pressure after losing their first game, as the Tigers—who had high hopes going into the tournament—may now find it more difficult to qualify for the Super Four round.

Bangladesh will now need to go to Lahore and defeat Afghanistan in their last group-stage match on September 3 according to the Asia Cup’s hybrid style. In addition, the Tigers will be counting on Sri Lanka to defeat Afghanistan in the second group match in order to advance to the Super Four without having to consider run-rate.

Shanto was the only hitter that helped Bangladesh’s batting collapse yesterday. He hit seven boundaries on route to his fourth ODI fifty and managed to score a respectable amount of runs.

After scoring four, debutant Tanzid Hasan Tamim was removed from the game, and Naim Sheikh seemed uneasy before to being removed on the fourteenth. Bangladesh was reduced to 36 for three in eleven overs after Shakib was removed for a cheap score of five.

But Shanto held his ground at the other end, putting in the majority of the runs. He was also under strain, since he was often losing batting partners.

The second-highest score for Bangladesh was 20 off 41 from Towhid Hridoy, while Mushfiqur Rahim (13), Mehedi Hasan Miraz (5), and Mahedi Hasan (6) were all finally bowled out with 44 balls remaining after failing to form a partnership.

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