The historic first-ever match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup 2023 is certainly one of the most talked-about events in the tournament. Bangladesh managed to secure their second victory in the eighth match, reviving hopes of performing well in the Champions Trophy. The Sri Lankans started their campaign in the World Cup on a high note, putting up a solid total of 279 runs after losing all their wickets, setting a strong target for Bangladesh. Bangladesh managed to chase down this target, securing an impressive win with key contributions from Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam.
On Monday, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in a thrilling match in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 279 runs after losing all their wickets in 41 overs. In response, Bangladesh chased down the total with a ball to spare. Sri Lanka lost in the World Cup for the first time, but they still managed to set a formidable run target, which was a record against the team.
After losing to Afghanistan in their first match, Bangladesh went on to lose all six matches until this victory. With this win, they now sit at number seven in the points table, just above Sri Lanka, which keeps their hopes alive for the Champions Trophy. Excluding the welcome Pakistan, the other seven teams in the World Cup will play in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh faced tremendous pressure going into this match, with their dream of playing in the Champions Trophy hanging by a thread. The start of the match was promising for Bangladesh. They took their first wicket within the first five balls, and Shoriful Islam took a stunning catch in the slips off Mushfiqur Rahim’s bowling.
After 10 overs, Sri Lanka had reached 52 runs, and they lost their second wicket when captain Shakib Al Hasan took the crucial wicket. Kusal Mendis, who had scored 19 runs off 30 balls, fell to Shakib. He then took an excellent catch to dismiss Kusal Perera, contributing significantly to Bangladesh’s strong performance.
In the eighth match of the tournament, the experienced cricketers Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan finally found success. In the end, Bangladesh’s team spirit paid off. They managed to contain Sri Lanka at 278 runs in the first innings, and then with a strong partnership between Shakib and Shoriful, they achieved a significant victory.
Shakib’s innings was particularly notable, featuring six boundaries and twelve fours, scoring 82 runs off 65 balls. However, he could not take the team across the finish line, and Bangladesh ultimately won by three wickets.
The match also saw a rare “timed out” incident when Angela Mathews was unable to take the field within the stipulated two minutes after the dismissal of a batsman, causing a bit of controversy.
Sri Lanka posted a challenging total, and it was a closely contested match, but ultimately Bangladesh came out on top, securing their second victory in the tournament. The win has boosted their hopes of advancing to the Champions Trophy.
