Bangladesh continued their dismal performance in the five-nation Asia Cup Cricket scoring 204 runs for 9 in stipulated 50 overs against finalists Sri Lanka in their last match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.
An apparently demoralized Bangladesh team made three changes in its line-up that lost to Pakistan, dropping seam bowler Shafiul Islam, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak and opening batsman Imrul Kayes for Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny and Shamsur Rahman.
However, Imrul Kayes, who made a fifty in the last match, was dropped due to injury.
The Bengal Tigers, yet to manage any win after playing three Asia Cup matches, opened the innings first after winning the toss and made a good start scoring 74 runs in 18.2 overs in the opening stand.
But Sri Lankan right arm off break bowler Ajantha Mendis made the breakthrough dismissing opener Shamsur Rahman (39) and reliable one down batsman Mominul Haque (1) in the span of only four balls for two runs in the 19th over with the score at 76 for 2.
Bangladesh was in trouble again when captain Mushfiqur Rahim made early departure scoring only four runs off 6 balls, trapped lbw by Chaturanga de Silva, leaving team total 87 for 3 in 21.5 overs.
Bangladesh misery further compounded when they lost two more quick wickets of opener Anamul Haque and all rounder Shakib Al Hasan at 119 for 5 in 33.2 overs.
Anamul Haque was very unlucky in the match as he returned to the dressing room, caught brilliantly by Lahiru Thirimanne off a Ashan Priyanjan delivery, just one run short of his half century (49 runs off 86 balls), the highest runs of the innings that featured two fours and a six
In the 6th wicket stand, Nasir Hossain pairing with Mahmudullah tried their best to repair the early damage contributing 55 runs in 11.1 overs. Nasir Hossain scored a patient 30 runs off 49 balls with one four while Mahmudullah also contributed 30 runs off 41 balls with two fours.
Ziaur Rahman made 12 runs off 22 balls that included one boundary.
Ashan Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Ajantha Mendis took two wickets each for 11, 29, 32 and 55 runs respectively while Chaturanga de Silva bagged one for 33 runs.
Source: UNB Connect