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Bangladeshi batsmen couldn’t match the spirited show that was put up by their bowlers who restricted Sri Lanka to a modest total of 147 for 5. Sri Lanka took only 15.5 overs to blow away the Tigers for a paltry 83 to keep their hopes alive in reaching the Semis. Sri Lanka with this 64-run win at a flood-lit Wanderers now face Australia tomorrow for a berth in the Semi-Finals.
Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. For Sanath Jayasuriya, it was another failure with the bat, this time a first-ball duck in the first over bowled by Mashrafe Mortaza. Sri Lanka never got into any rhythm after that although they were meaningful contributions from the likes of Tharanga (23 from 14) and Mahela Jayawardene (30 from 30). Sri Lanka were struggling at 96 for 5 in the 15th and could just reach a moderate 147 for 5 thanks to a couple of good overs towards the end. Dilshan with 21 from 16 and Mubarak with 31 from 19 with 2 fours and a six were the finishers. The Bangladeshi bowlers killed the Sri Lankan strokeplay with their lack of pace. Young Off Spinner Mahmudullah was simply outstanding in his four overs which gave away only 19 runs along with the wicket of Sangakkara.
The Bangladeshi chase began on a dismal note with Chaminda Vaas trapping Nazimuddin with a late inswinger in the first over. Aftab Ahmed at no.3 just kept on playing his shots but soon got cleaned up by Dilhara Fernando without doing any significant damage. Captain Ashraful came in with his side in deep trouble and for once chickened out playing an atrocious lofted shot. Bangladesh at 31 for 4 in the 7th over just didn’t have the firepower in their batting to reach the Sri Lankan target. Eventually they got bowled out in the 16th over with their innings lasting just over an hour. Vaas, Fernando and Jayasuriya picked up a couple of wickets each. But it was Dilhara Fernando’s double blow in the 4th over that had fetched him the Man of the Match.