Batting woes prevail again as Bangladesh lose against Sri Lanka

Batting was yet again the culprit as Bangladesh lost consecutive matches against Sri Lanka in the ongoing Asia Cup, this time succumbing to a 21-run loss in the Super Four stage of the tournament at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

Bangladesh's hopes of making it to the final of the tournament now lie entirely on other results going their way coupled with favorable net run-rates. 

After restricting Sri Lanka for 257 for nine, Bangladesh were bundled out for 236 runs, with Towhid Hridoy's 97-ball 82 being the highlight of the innings that saw batters put out underwhelming efforts with the bat once again in the tournament.

Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka earned his second-best ODI figures with the ball as he picked up three wickets for 27 runs, while Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana played expected roles to stifle Bangladesh batters as they both picked up three wicket each.

Shakib Al Hasan's side started their chase with the most solid of foundations as the openers put on a 55-run stand before makeshift opener Mehedi Hasan Miraz departed for a 29-ball 28 that saw him hit four boundaries. The right-handed batter looked significantly more attuned to the role than than his partner Mohammad Naim, who had another dismal day at the top of the order. 

Naim's batting woes continued when he failed to veer away from a Dasun Shanaka short delivery in the 14th over of the innings. Naim, who struggled for his 46-ball 21, was finally put out of his misery when Shanaka bowled a short delivery moving away from the batter's shoulders. Naim, at first, looked to pull but then got caught up in two mind as he failed to offer a shot nor steer his bat away from the line of the ball. Eventually, his hands appeared to have frozen as the ball took a top edge off the splice of his blade and nestled into the gloves of the wicketkeeper.  

Skipper Shakib, who managed a seven-ball three, nicked one to the wicketkeeper while trying to execute a cut shot against a delivery that was short and wide off the bowling of Matheesha Pathirana in the 16th over leaving the Tigers in a spot of bother at three down for 73. His dismissal to the same bowler seemed almost identical to the one in the group-stage game. 

Next to go was vice-captain Liton Das who failed to get a read on Dunith Wellalage's arm-ball and tried to play an expansive drive through the covers but ended up getting an inside-edge that was gloved by the wicketkeeper. Another disappointing outing saw him depart after a 24-ball 15 as the Tigers were reeling with four down under 100.

Hridoy and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim tried to steady the ship with a 72-run stand and even managed to take the game to favourable position from which they could challenge for the win but the latter managed to yet again throw his wicket away leaving the Tiger five down for 155.

The veteran batter came down the wicket on the second delivery of the 38th over bowled by Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka. He got close to the pitch of the ball but failed to make proper contact to a delivery that was there to be hit and could only chip a catch to short mid-on. He couldn't find any boundaries in his 48-ball 29-run knock. 

Mushfiqur found it difficult to veer away from his usual habit of throwing his wicket away in crucial situations, with this being the latest instance. The 36-year-old made a similar mishap in the Tigers' last match against Pakistan when he tried to take on the best bowler of the day. He nicked it to the wicketkeeper while trying to hit Haris Rauf down the wicket shortly after reaching his fifty.

But Bangladesh's chances were all but finished when Towhid Hridoy was trapped lbw. Hridoy's 82-run knock came to an unlucky end when he was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Maheesh Theekshana in the 44th over.

Hridoy was hit on the pads by off-spinner Theekshana and upon appeal by the bowling side, the umpire raised his finger signaling out despite the middle, and off stump being visible. Hridoy, the last recognised batter, reviewed the decision but the ball was seen as clipping the stumps and the had to take the long walk back as the decision stayed with the on-field umpire's call. This pushed the Tigers on the verge of defeat and in five overs, the game was done and dusted.