DUBAI: Mushfiqur Rahim notched his sixth One-day International hundred to lift Bangladesh to 261 in the opening match of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Saturday.

The former captain’s 150-ball 144 with 11 boundaries and four sixes — a career-best score — lifted Bangladesh from a precarious 1-2 in the first over after they won the toss and batted in the Group ‘B’ fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Musfiqur added 131 for the third wicket with Mohammad Mithun (63) to lead the recovery after recalled Sri Lankan paceman Lasith Malinga removed Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan for ducks.

Malinga finished with 4-23 in his first match in 13 months.

Malinga showed that he still is quite a bit away from hanging up his boots as he set up Liton Das with away going deliveries and then got him with the fifth ball of the innings with the opener edging to first slip. He then came to the fore next ball — a searing inswinging ball took care of Shakib Al Hasan who saw his stumps in a mess.

It got worse for Bangladesh when Tamim Iqbal went off with a blow to his forearm after he missed a pull against Suranga Lakmal. Later scans showed a fracture and subsequently the opener was ruled out of the tournament.

It would have been even worse for Bangladesh had Sri Lanka’s fielders held on to their catches.First Mithun was dropped by Angelo Mathews and then Mushfiqur. Both batsmen made the most of those reprieves as they slowly got their eye in.

But from a promising 134-2, three quick wickets saw the score reading 142-5. However, Mushfiqur held firm until the end.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:
Tamim Iqbal not out 2
Liton Das c Mendis b Malinga 0
Shakib Al Hasan b Malinga 0
Mushfiqur Rahim c Mendis b T. Perera 144
Mohammad Mithun c K. Perera b Malinga 63
Mahmudullah c de Silva b Aponso 1
Mosaddek Hossain c K. Perera b Malinga 1
Mehedi Hasan c and b Lakmal 15
Mashrafe Mortaza c Tharanga b de Silva 11
Rubel Hossain lbw b de Silva 2
Mustafizur Rahman run out 10

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-7, NB-1) 12
TOTAL (all out, 49.3 overs) 261
FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-1, 3-134, 4-136, 5-142, 6-175, 7-195, 8-203, 9-229.
NOTE: Tamim retired hurt at 2-3 and resumed at 229-9.
BOWLING: Malinga 10-2-23-4 (1nb, 3w); Lakmal 10-0-46-1 (1w); Aponso 9-0-55-1; N.L.T.C. Perera 7,3-0-51-1 (1w); M.D.K. Perera 3-0-25-0; de Silva 7-0-38-2 (1w); Shanaka 3-0-19-0.

SRI LANKA: W.U. Tharanga, D.M. de Silva, M.D.K.J. Perera, B.K.G. Mendis, A.D. Mathews, N.L.T.C. Perera, M.D. Shanaka, M.D.K. Perera, S.L. Malinga, R.A.S. Lakmal, M.A. Aponso.
UMPIRES: M. Erasmus (South Africa) and C. Shamshuddin (India).
TV UMPIRE: G.O. Brathwaite (West Indies).
MATCH REFEREE: D.C. Boon (Australia).

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018