Bangladesh batters rise to occasion

Bangladesh managed to pile up a commanding total in Dubai today against Sri Lanka in the two sides' do-or-die encounter to remain in the Asia Cup.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, and Mosaddek Hossain played aggressive knocks as the Tigers amassed 183 for seven in 20 overs after being asked to bat first.

Bangladesh opened their innings with Miraz and Sabbir Rahman and the duo – who replaced Mohammad Naim and Anamul Haque Bijoy -- showed positive intent at the start, striking two boundaries in the first over bowled by Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka.  

Sabbir (5) left early but Miraz kept the scoring rate up with two fours and sixes before the bowling-allrounder departed after scoring 38 off 26 balls. Miraz had struck gold in the innings' fifth over of Fernando as Bangladesh scored 18 in the over as he scooped to strike a six, over the wicket-keeper's head, and followed it up with a cracking drive for a boundary down the ground.  

Once Miraz departed, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan got into his elements and maintained the tempo. Shakib scooped Chamika Karunaratne in between the wicket-keeper and the short fine leg fielder for two boundaries on the trot before getting bowled by a beautifully flighted delivery from Maheesh Theekshana.

However, in the process of scoring 24 off 22 balls, Shakib reached another landmark in his illustrious career as the champion all-rounder became the second player in the history of the T20 format to reach 6,000 runs and 400 wickets.

Bangladesh brought their hundred up inside thirteen overs with Afif striking Hasaranga for a maximum over deep midwicket. Afif scored an impressive 22-ball 39, laced with four boundaries and two maximums, and remained the aggressor in the fifth-wicket stand as he stitched a 37-ball 57-run stand with Mahmudullah Riyad, who struck a six and a four for his 27 runs off 22 balls. 

The duo departed in quick succession but then in came the in-form batter Mosaddek Hossain.   

150 came up for Bangladesh with Mosaddek Hossain striking a boundary towards long off in the first ball he faced in the 18th over.

Bangladesh ended their innings on a high as Mosaddek's brilliant 9-ball 24, featuring four boundaries, and Taskin Ahmed's 6-ball 11 took the Tigers to a above-par score of 183. 

Sri Lanka bowlers had a tough outing in the middle despite all their bowlers scalping at least a wicket.