DHAKA — Sabbir Rahman hit a career-best 80 as Bangladesh secured its first ever Twenty20 victory over Sri Lanka with a 23-run win in the Asia Cup Sunday.
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat, only to be reduced to a precarious 2-2 before Rahman steered the hosts to a challenging total of 147-7.
Shakib Al Hasan scored 32 to give Rahman useful support as they combined for an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket. Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 23.
Bangladesh's bowlers then did their job, restricting Sri Lanka to 124-8 with fast bowler Al-Amin Hossain claiming 3-34. Al Hasan, a left arm spinner, had 2-21.
Sri Lanka opener Dinesh Chandimal, reprieved on 0, went on to score 37 and Shehan Jayasuriya added 26.
Rahman survived a close call when on 46 as Chamara Kapugedara failed to hold on to a catch on the boundary rope. Instead the ball went for six to give Rahman his third T20 half-century.
He was then in full control until fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera (3-30) got him with a slower delivery.
Rahman cracked 10 boundaries and three sixes in his 54-ball knock.
Chameera also took the wicket of Al Hasan as he tried to keep the momentum going. Mahmudullah then hit two fours and one six in his undefeated 23.
Sri Lanka could have lost Chandimal in the second ball of the chase but Soumya Sarkar missed a regulation catch in second slip off fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.
Al-Amin Hossain made the breakthrough by dismissing Tillakaratne Dilshan for 12, but Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya replied with a stand of 56 runs for the second wicket.
Bangladesh bowlers clawed back with four wickets in just 16 runs, including the scalps of Chandimal and Jayasuirya, to turn the match.
Fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Mashrafe Mortaza, and off-spinner Mahmudullah, chipped in with one wicket apiece to help steer the hosts to victory.
Scores:
Bangladesh 147-7 (Sabbir Rahman 80, Shakib Al Hasan 32, Mahmudullah 23 not out; Chameera 3-30, Mathews 1-8, Kulasekara 1-44).
Sri Lanka 124-8 (D. Chandimal 37, S. Jayasuriya 26; Al-Amin 3-34, Shakib 2-21, Mustafizur 1-19-1, Mortaza 1-17, Mahmudullah 1-14).
