Sri Lanka's batsmen failed to fire but their bowlers responded to the call and helped them post a 64-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Eights Group F match of the Twenty20 World Cup in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Bangladesh's bowlers did well to restrict the explosive Sri Lankan batsmen to a modest 147 for five and gave themselves a good chance of winning the game but their batsmen could not complete the task. They were bundled out for just 83 runs in 15.5 overs.
In Group F, Pakistan have won both their Super Eight matches and are through to the semi-finals. They have a game in hand against Bangladesh. Australia and Sri Lanka have won one and lost one match. Their face-off on Thursday will decide the second semi-finalist from the group.
After being sent in, Sri Lanka lost their way against some tight and disciplined bowling by Bangladesh. But their bowlers stood counted.
Chaminda Vass (2-14), Dilhara Fernando (2-21) and Sanath Jayasuriya (2-5) all chipped in with the ball.
The Bangladesh batsmen went down to some reckless hitting, and with wickets falling in heaps, they were never really in sight of a victory. In the end, it turned out to be a one-sided affair.
Aftab Ahmed (18) and Shakib-al Hasan (18) were the top-scorers for Bangladesh.
Fernando and Vass did not allow Bangladesh a good start and scythed through the top-order.
Vass struck in the very first over and trapped Nazimuddin in front. Tamim Iqbal tried a big shot but was caught at the third man region by Lasith Malinga off Fernando.
Aftab Ahmed and skipper Mohammed Ashraful tried to hit their way out but did not succeed and Bangladesh were soon down to 4-31. Sri Lanka also fielded well and executed two run-outs as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
Earlier, Bangladesh's bowlers kept Sri Lanka on a tight leash and restricted them to a modest 147 for five.
Sri Lanka's batsmen never got a chance to open up in the face of some disciplined and accurate bowling by Bangladesh.
Mohammad Mahmudullah's four overs went for a mere 19 while Syed Rasel conceded just 26.
Skipper Mahela Jayawerdena (30 off 30 balls), Jehan Mubarak (31 not out) and T Dilshan (21 not out) scored some quick runs as Sri Lanka put up a respectable total.
Sri Lanka suffered a jolt in the first over when Sanath Jayasuriya was caught on the boundary by Mahmudullah as he tried to send a Mashrafe Mortaza delivery out of the ground.
Syed Rasel (1-26) then got rid of Upul Tharanga (23 off 14 balls), caught by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Jayawardena and Sangakkara (20) tried to score quickly but their efforts never bore fruit.
Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 96 runs before Dilshan and Mubarak gave some respectability to the score.
