Bangladesh lose high-scoring thriller

Bangladesh fell agonisingly short of a thrilling victory against Sri Lanka Board President's XI in a warm-up game on Wednesday as the Tigers lost by two runs despite making 352.

Chasing 355, the Bangladesh side lost Imrul Kayes in the very first ball of the innings, but Sabbir Rahman and Soumya Sarkar made 116 in the second wicket to lead the fightback.

Soumya had made 47 off 43 deliveries thanks to five fours and two sixes while Sabbir hammered 72 courtesy of 11 fours and a six.

Mosaddek Hossain also added 53, but after the fall of the seventh wicket on 239 the match looked to have been won by the hosts.

Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza then stole the show, blasting 58 off just 35 balls thanks to four fours and four sixes while Mahmudullah also hit an unbeaten 71. The duo added 101 runs in just 9.4 overs, but the latter and Mohammad Saifuddin could not take 13 in the last over. They could only manage 10 and had to be content with a fighting loss in this high-scoring game.

Put into bat first, the Sri Lankan side posted 354 for 7 thanks to decent contributions from almost all the batsmen.

Sandun Weerakkody was the top scorer with 67 while Kusal Perera made 64 before retiring to the stands. Dhananjaya de Silva also hit a half century while Thisara Perera added 41.

Mashrafe Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Abul Hasan and Sunzamul Islam claimed one wicket apiece.

Source: Prothom Alo