Mahmudullah's last-minute heroics guide Bangladesh to victory over Sri Lanka
A coordinated effort of first by the bowlers, then by the batsmen helped Bangladesh script a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their T20 World Cup Group D match in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Saturday Dhaka time.
Set a modest target of 125, the Tigers were undone by disciplined Lankans bowling, slumping to 28 for three in the sixth over before Towhid Hridoy’s 40 off 20 balls (a four, four sixes) stole the spotlight from the power-hitting Liton Das (36 off 38 balls).
Bangladesh fell for the Lankan bowling again losing four wickets in just five overs and slumping to 113 for eight in the eighteenth over, but experienced Mahmudullah (16 off 13 balls) took the helm and guided the Tigers to reach the target with an over to spare.
For Sri Lanka, Nuwan Thushara finished with 4-18 from his four overs.
News agency AFP adds: It was the final of four games at the Grand Prairie Stadium and the Dallas crowd have been treated to some top entertainment on a surface which offered some bounce and produced good contests between bat and ball.
Sri Lanka made a fast start, rattling their way to 53-2 in six overs and they progressed to 100-3 after 14 overs with Pathum Nissanka's 47 from 28 including eight boundaries (one six).
But then the 21-year-old wrist spinner Rishad struck twice in successive balls to totally change the momentum of the innings.
Charith Asalanka's sweep shot found Shakib Al Hasan at deep backward square and he snaffled up the catch.
Sri Lanka skipper Wanindu Hasaranga was the next victim of Rishad's spin, edging a sharply turning delivery to Soumya Sarkar at slip.
Dhananjaya de Silva who made a solid 21 off 26 balls was then beaten by Rishad's flight and was stumped by the alert Liton.
Sri Lanka were just able to add 24 runs from the final six overs losing six wickets in that period.
Rishad finished with career-best T20I figures of 3-22 from his four overs.
Mustafizur Rahman finished with 3-17 from four overs while Taskin Ahmed also bowled well for his 2-25.
Bangladesh made a shaky start and were struggling at 28-3 in the sixth over before Liton and Hridoy put together a crucial 63-run partnership.
Hridoy hit Hasaranga for three consecutive sixes before he was trapped leg before on the next ball and when Hasarange removed Liton, there was a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka.
A brilliant diving catch in the deep from Maheesh Theekshana saw the back of Shakib Al Hasan to leave Bangladesh at 109-6.
Thushara then returned to the attack and removed Rishad and Taskin to increase the pressure but when Mahmudullah dispatched a loose full toss from Dasun Shanaka for six over mid-wicket, the nerves eased and victory was soon secured.
Bangladesh were playing their first game of the tournament after an unimpressive warm-up campaign saw them lose a three-game series to the USA and then lose by 60 runs to India.