Catch Miss is Match Miss - Bangladesh made that cricket proverb come true forever. Mahmudullah Riyad's team missed the match by missing a pair of catches.
On Sunday in Sharjah, the Tigers threw a challenging target of 172 runs against Sri Lanka. Tigers picked up 4 wickets for 79 runs and at one time it was getting the smell of victory.
But after missing a pair of catches, the match turned to the Lankans. After that, Bangladesh could not hold the pressure on the generosity of the bowlers. Charith Asalanka and Vanuka Rajapaksa, who were dropped catches by Liton Das, finally handed over the match to the Lankans.
Sri Lanka won with 5 wickets and 7 balls in hand. Dream-breaking of Bangladesh despite raising hopes. The Tigers played their first match in the Super Twelve.
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad started the attack with Nasum Ahmed in the first over of the innings to chase Sri Lanka's run.
The spinner, who did not get a single chance in the first innings, brought success to Bangladesh in the fourth ball of the Lankan innings. Kushal Perera’s stamp was broken in a great delivery. Bold Lankan opener (1) missed the line while playing cross.
But Pathum Nishanka and Charith Asalanka handled the initial push very well. Nothing was happening. Instead, both of them continue to play.
In the second wicket, Bangladesh came under pressure with a stormy partnership of 69 runs off 45 balls. In the end, Shakib Al Hasan came back in the ninth over with a pair of strikes.
The world's best all-rounder took 2 wickets in four balls, both bowled. Shakib bowled Pathum Nishanka (24 off 21 balls) in the first ball of the over and Avishka Fernando (0) in the fourth ball.
Mohammad Saifuddin strikes in that danger of the Lankans. Wanindu Hasaranga (6) floated the ball in the sky to pick up the right-arm pacer. Naeem took an easy catch.
Sri Lanka was in great danger after losing 4 wickets for 79 runs in the tenth over. But then the Tigers have to pay for the mistake. In 12.3 overs of the innings, Liton caught Rajapaksa in the deep square leg off Afif Hossain but dropped. At that time Rajapaksa was on 14 runs.
After that, in 14.3 overs made by Mostafizur Rahman, in the deep cover, Asalanka (when he was at 63 runs) was also dropped by Liton. The Sri Lankan pair turned around after missing those two catches.
Asalanka and Rajapaksa made 86 runs off 52 balls. In the end, Nasum bowled Rajapaksa (53 off 31 balls) in the 19th over but could not stop the victory. Another batsman Asalanka, who got life, remained unbeaten on 80 off 49 balls.
Earlier, Naeem Sheikh's 62 off 52 balls and Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten 57 off 37 balls helped Bangladesh to 171 for four.
Liton Das (16 off 16 balls), Shakib Al Hasan (10 off 7 balls), Afif Hossain (7 off 6 balls) and Mahmudullah Riyad (10 off 5 balls with 2 boundaries) were unbeaten.