Bangladesh put on a dominating show against Sri Lanka to beat them by 137 runs in the opening match of Asia Cup 2018 on Saturday in Dubai.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh were off to a shaky start but Mushfiqur Rahim's career-best score of 144 runs helped them post 261 from 49.3 overs.
In their reply, Sri Lanka were never in the game as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually dismissed for 124 in the 36th over.
Sri Lanka's start to the chase was disastrous and that is what cost them. Kusal Mendis misread the pace of a Mustafizur Rahman delivery in the second over and played across the line, only to be hit on the pads and get adjudged lbw. Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Highlights
In the following over Mashrafe Mortaza got rid of the other opener in Upul Tharanga with a peach of a deliver that pitched on off-stump and moved in to knock Tharanga's stumps over. Bangladesh will next play Afghanistan in their second Group B fixture (AP Photo)
Mortaza then got rid of Dhananjaya de Silva in his next over to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 32/3 in the fifth over.
The Lankans continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. When Mehidy Hasan got rid of Thisara Perera to reduce the former World Cup champions to 69/7 in the 19th over, the match was as good as over.
Earlier, veteran pacer Lasith Malinga enjoyed a wonderful return to international action with figures of 4/23. Bangladesh end their innings on 261! @mushfiqur15 finishes a remarkable knock on a career-best 144, Malinga leading the way for @OfficialSLC taking 4/23 from his 10 overs. Follow #BANvSL live https://t.co/OqwHFUJT6J pic.twitter.com/dhYlu6PcVX ICC (@ICC) September 15, 2018
The 35-year-old, who was missing in action for around a year due to fitness issues, started with a bang when he sent back Liton Das and the experienced Shakib Al Hasan off consecutive balls in the opening over.
But Mushfiqur and Mithun put on a partnership of 133 runs in 24.3 overs to give a solid foundation to the Bangladesh innings.
Mithun scored 63 runs off 68 balls before becoming Malinga's third victim in the 26th over.
Mushfiqur continued to battle on before Thisara Perera dismissed him in the 50th over to bring the Bangladesh innings to an end.
Bangladesh: 261 in 49.3 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 144, Mohammad Mithun 63; Lasith Malinga 4/23) vs Sri Lanka: 124 in 35.2 over (Mustafizur Rahman 2/20, Mehidy Hasan 2/21, Mashrafe Mortaza 2/25).
(With inputs from IANS) --- ENDS ---
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