Is Bangladesh out of Asia Cup 2023?

Bangladesh’s poor batting came back to haunt them yet again as the Tigers lost to Sri Lanka by 21 runs in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match on Saturday, September 9 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Barring Towhid Hridoy, none of the other batters looked like posing a threat to the opposition bowlers. Hridoy scored 82 runs off 97 balls with seven fours and a six, but his valiant efforts could not pay dividends.

Chasing a not-so-big total, Bangladesh started steadily as Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Naim Shaikh put on 55 runs for the opening wicket off 11.1 overs. But it was Mehidy who did most of the scoring as his partner was struggling to score runs. While trying to up the ante, Miraz mistimed a pull shot off Dasun Shanaka straight down the throat of Dushan Hemantha.

Naim also perished soon while trying to play a nothing shot off Shanaka. Litton Das rotated the strike for a bit before he got a bottom edge off Dunith Wellalage. Shakib Al Hasan got out to Matheesha Pathirana while trying slashing a ball way outside the off-stump.

At 83 for the loss of four wickets in 18.5 overs, the Tigers were in all sorts of trouble. But then Mushfiqur Rahim and Hridoy put on 72 runs to bring their team back into the contest, although the required rate was steadily climbing.

Skipper Shanaka came to the party again as he removed Mushfiqur, who scored 29 laboured runs. Hridoy, in the meantime, got to his half-century off 73 balls to hold one end up.

But once Maeesh Theekshana trapped him plumb in front, it was all over bar the shouting for Bangladesh, who finished with 236 in 48.1 overs. Hasan Mahmud and Nasum Ahmed threw their bats around, but it was only to mitigate the damage.