Dhaka, Mar 10 (Just News): Mushfiqur Rahim’s sensational unbeaten innings of 72 off 35 deliveries guided Bangladesh to complete their highest successful run-chase in Twenty20 format as they defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in Colombo on Saturday.
Chasing a record total of 215 runs, the Tigers reached 215-5 with two balls to spare after Mushfiq took required nine runs in the first four deliveries of the final over.
Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das also made 47 and 43 respectively in the chase which is the fourth highest successful run-chase in Twenty20 cricket.
Earlier, Kusal Perera struck highest 74 runs while opener Kusal Mendis made 57 as Sri Lanka posted their highest total against Bangladesh in Twenty20 internationals 214-6 in the third match of Nidahas Trophy.
Perera smashed his second consecutive fifty in the ongoing tournament with eight fours and two sixes in his 48-ball innings while Mendis continued his superb form against the Tigers as he struck his third successive fifty against them with hitting five sixes and two fours in 30 balls.
Sent into bat first, Sri Lanka got off to blazing start as they reached their 50-run mark in the fourth over before Mustafizur Rahman gave the Tigers the first breakthrough removing Danushka Gunathilaka for 26 in the fifth over.
Perera and Mendis shared a 85-run stand for the second wicket before Mahmudullah removed Mendis and Dasun Shanaka (0) in the fourteenth over to give the Tigers some hope of a comeback.
Taskin Ahmed dismissed Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal (two) in the next over but Perera and Upal Tharanga made 55 off 26 balls for the fifth wicket to take Sri Lanka over 200-run mark.
Mustafizur dismissed Perera and Thisara Perera (0) in the final over but in the mean-time the hosts achieved their highest total against the Tigers surpassing the previous score of 210-4 which they made in their last meeting in Sylhet last month.
Tharanga remained not out 32 off 15 balls while Jeevan Mendis was not out on six.
Mustafiz was the most successful bowler for the Tigers with 3-48 while Mahmudullah bagged 2-15.
(Justnews/ys/0030)
