Angelo Mathews became the first batsman in international cricket to be timed out as Bangladesh finally eliminated Sri Lanka from the World Cup by posting a 3-wicket win in a thrilling encounter in New Delhi on Monday.
Despite the AQI reaching above 400, it was business as usual for both teams as Bangladesh drove the island nation out for 279 in 49.3 overs, with Charith Asalanka hitting 105. Bangladesh, on the other hand, reached the mark with 53 balls to spare.
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The Rundown: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
On Monday, Shakib Al Hasan took it upon himself to inject a little zest into a pretty small World Cup event at the Arun Jaitley stadium. When he opted to ask for a ‘timed out’ dismissal over Angelo Mathews during the 25th over of the game, he knew that it was up to him to carry Bangladesh through against arch-rivals Sri Lanka.
And Shakib’s breezy 65-ball 82, together with Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s fashionable 101-ball 90, contributed to Bangladesh’s three-wicket victory with nine overs left in the pursuit of 280.
The Tension Between Shakib and Mathews
In the 32nd over, Mathews struck back by dismissing Shakib with a slow delivery. As Shakib returned, the seasoned Lankan all-rounder facetiously gestured to his wrist, implying Shakib’s time was up. Finally, Sri Lanka is running out of time to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
It was a game intended to demonstrate their importance in international cricket. In the World Cup, both nations have been forced into an impasse. It was a circumstance in which the ego could easily take control. It certainly appeared to do so for Shakib when he declined to drop his case against Mathews.
But, in doing so, he also signaled to the remainder of the team that he was willing to battle as captain of a team that had been embroiled in controversy for months leading up to the World Cup. He issued himself an ultimatum.
Bangladesh’s Shaky Finish Puts Sri Lanka in the Game
The incident inspired Sri Lanka. Charith Asalanka scored 108 off 105 balls to help the island nation reach 279 from an uphill battle of 132/5. However, the Lankan battle came very late in the game.
The score was constantly below par on a deck that delivered World Cup record scores during the event. The high dew consistently kept their spinners out of the competition. Sri Lanka’s greatest chance after Shakib and Shanto formed a third-wicket stand was to expect a Bangladesh meltdown.
Bangladesh did appear to disintegrate toward the end of the race. But Shakib’s bat dominance has taken the game to new heights. He walked over to the seamers and tossed the ball at his leisure. Sri Lanka ended up lamenting a missed chance when he was batting on seven after twelve boundaries and two sixes.
Sri Lanka’s Cricketing Heritage Under Threat
A lot is riding on Shakib. He has consistently been Bangladesh’s go-to man in times of need. He is their most recognizable cricketing icon. With all that has happened in Bangladesh cricket in the previous five months, the management has placed its confidence in Shakib.
Six consecutive losses while being the first team ousted from contention for a semi-final position were likely to place Shakib under pressure.
And he replied. First, with the ball, he grabbed 2/57 while expertly shifting his bowlers to maintain Lanka’s distance. Then there was the bat. Coming up with the authority, he realized he had to accept the duty of motivating the Lankans, and he did it with style.
Bangladesh might be able to relax about their present prospects in international cricket. But Shakib could feel in his heart that his team’s comeback came a little too late. Sri Lanka’s cricketing heritage is at risk.
Player of the Game: Shakib Al Hasan
When he asked for the timed-out dismissal of Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan said that he was at war. During the Sri Lankan innings, Mathews was deemed timed out for failing to take on a single ball within the two-minute limit specified by the competition rules.
Shakib spoke at the post-match ceremony about what drove him to initiate the appeal, particularly since no fielding skipper has ever done so in the 146-year history of international cricket.
The man of the match, Shakib Al Hasan, had a very extraordinary all-round effort throughout that match. Contributed with both bat and ball: took 2 wickets for 57 runs in his 10 overs while bowling and scored an important 82 runs off 65 balls with the bat. He played a key role in helping his team claim their second win.
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Score
| India | South Africa |
| 279(49.3 overs) | 282/7(41.1 overs) |
| Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by 3 wickets with 53 balls to spare | |
Bangladesh had a dismal run in this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup, losing six of its seven matches after beating Afghanistan in the opener.
Bangladesh experienced an embarrassing loss in their recent encounter against Pakistan, as the batsmen struggled to rack up a big score and got out for 204, while the bowling attack was unable to contain runs as the target was chased down in only 32.3 overs.
Sri Lanka, on the other side, had a promising World Cup campaign until losing to Afghanistan and India in their previous matches. The Lankans were knocked out of the tournament after being thrashed by India by 302 runs. They are no longer in competition for a spot in the semi-finals.
The cricketing drama continues unabated as Bangladesh and Australia lock horns in Pune on Saturday, while Sri Lanka and New Zealand go head-to-head in Bengaluru on Thursday.
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