- By Manik Sharma
- Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
SL vs BAN: In an exhilarating Cricket World Cup 2023 clash at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, Bangladesh secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. The defeat marked the end of Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign, making them the third team, alongside Bangladesh and England, to miss out on a spot in the semi-finals.
Bangladesh, who had already been eliminated from the tournament, had their sights set on securing a top-eight finish to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The tournament will feature the top eight teams from the Cricket World Cup 2023 points table after the group stage. Bangladesh's remarkable performance pushed them ahead of Sri Lanka in the standings, claiming the seventh position, while Sri Lanka slipped to eighth place.
In a comprehensive chase, Bangladesh successfully reached the target of 280 with 53 balls to spare. The match took an intriguing turn as Bangladesh lost five wickets in quick succession in the final moments, but the partnership of 169 runs between their skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto ultimately sealed the deal for Bangladesh.
Shakib Al Hasan's exceptional all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match title. He not only contributed 82 runs but also took two crucial wickets. However, it was not just Shakib's performance that grabbed attention; the controversial 'Time Out' dismissal of Angelo Mathews became a hot topic of discussion among fans and experts alike.
Mathews entered the field after Sadeera Samarawickrama was dismissed in the third ball of the 25th over, bowled by Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan. However, Mathews encountered issues with the strap of his helmet and failed to get ready to face the ball within two minutes. This prompted Bangladesh to appeal, leading to Mathews being given his marching orders by the umpires, despite his repeated pleas.
In the earlier part of the match, Charith Asalanka played a pivotal role, scoring an impressive 108 runs for Sri Lanka. His century came off 105 balls and was his second ODI ton. Asalanka's performance was instrumental in Sri Lanka posting a total of 279/10 in 49.3 overs.
He shared crucial partnerships, including a 63-run stand with Sadeera Samarawickrama (41) and a significant 78-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva. Additionally, he contributed 45 runs in a partnership of 48 with Maheesh Theekshana (22). Opener Pathum Nissanka also chipped in with a valuable 41 runs off 36 balls.
Bangladesh will play Australia in their final World Cup game, while Sri Lanka will be up against New Zealand.