In a nail-biting encounter at Grand Prairie Stadium, Mahmudullah’s nerve-wracking finish helped Bangladesh clinch a thrilling victory over Sri Lanka during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Chasing a target of 125 runs, Bangladesh encountered early setbacks as Soumya Sarkar fell to Dhananjaya de Silva in the third ball of the innings.
Despite Nuwan Thushara’s double blow, which left Bangladesh reeling at 28-3, Towhid Hridoy’s explosive 40 off 20 balls, including four sixes, rejuvenated their innings.
Hridoy’s aggressive partnership with Litton Das, who contributed 36 runs, propelled Bangladesh to 91 runs. However, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga halted their momentum by dismissing both Hridoy and Das in quick succession.
Amidst the fall of wickets, Mahmudullah held firm, guiding Bangladesh to victory with an unbeaten 16 off 13 balls, sealing the win in the 19th over.
For Sri Lanka, Thushara starred with figures of 4-18, while Hasaranga claimed two crucial wickets.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 124-9 in 20 overs. Despite Pathum Nissanka’s solid 47 runs, Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman’s three wickets each limited Sri Lanka’s scoring opportunities.
Angelo Mathews’ late contribution of 16 runs bolstered Sri Lanka’s total, but Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling ensured they fell short of a formidable target.
Ultimately, Bangladesh’s collective effort secured a memorable victory in the T20 World Cup encounter, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
