Ashraful fifty lifts Bangladesh to 260 50 overs Bangladesh 260 for 7 (Ashraful 75, Mahmudullah 45) v Sri Lanka
Sensible batting by the Bangladesh middle order - led by Mohammad Ashraful's workmanlike fifty - aided a recovery after a top-order collapse, to help the hosts post 260 for 7. The openers had given Bangladesh the momentum to pile on a challenging score before they hit the self-destruct button to hand the initiative over to Sri Lanka. But from thereon, Bangladesh slowly but surely swam to safety through dogged resistance to give their bowlers something to bowl at on a decent strip for batting.
The bulk of the fireworks were reserved for the slog overs, when the batting Powerplay was taken, before a frenetic final over which leaked 20 runs. Ashraful's 75 was significant mainly because it kept the Sri Lankans at bay, helped the innings last the entire 50 overs and with wickets in hand, Naeem Islam had the freedom to smack it around and take the score past 250.
An opening stand of 65 between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes set the platform for that kind of score but the script changed a little before the middle order redressed the balance. A familiar weakness returned to haunt them - the inability to sustain their concentration for long periods. The result was a passage of play gifted to the Sri Lankans, during which four wickets fell for nine runs.
The half-century opening stand was only their 28th in 212 games. The slide began when Imrul Kayes - who attempted several on-side whips during his stint - fetched a short delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara from off stump and top edged to Thilan Samaraweera running forward from fine leg. At the other end, Tamim batted like he was in control of his instincts but perished to an irresponsible shot, advancing to Tillakaratne Dilshan and miscuing the loft to mid-off.
Suranga Lakmal was rewarded for that catch with a spell, and he picked up a wicket in his first over, thanks to a stunning one-handed take by Samaraweera at second slip. Raqibul failed to fend off the rising delivery with soft hands and the outside edge sent him back for a duck. Two overs later, there was further trouble for Bangladesh when their captain Shakib Al Hasan too set a poor example, slicing Lakmal to Welegedara who took a fine catch falling forward at third man.
At the 17th over, Bangladesh had to start all over again. They were fortunate to have a batsman in Mushfiqur, who's adept at staying at the crease for long periods. Ashraful too was forced to let his guard down and look for the singles, which the pair managed to do fairly easily. Mushfiqur wasn't afraid to hit in the air each time Lakmal dropped short and he managed three boundaries off him, the best being a flat-batted swat over the bowler's head.
The pair nudged it around during their 58-run stand for the fifth wicket, tapping the ball within the infield and putting pressure on the fielders. They were more focused on accumulation rather than domination. Rahim was on track to a half-century but was trapped lbw while trying to sweep Suraj Randiv.
Ashraful meanwhile didn't change gears and continued grafting against the spinners, this time with Mahmudullah for company. Kumar Sangakkara bowled his slower men at both ends, including the part-timer Thilina Kandamby. Incredibly, Ashraful picked up his first boundary off his 37th ball - a loft over extra cover off Kandamby - in sharp contrast to the way he normally plays. It's a style of play he's getting used to, after being criticised time and again in his career for throwing his wicket away after making a start.
After spending enough time getting his eye in, he brought a little more urgency to the proceedings after the 40th over, when he got a little more adventurous, clearing his back leg to target the on-side boundary. Mahmudullah and Ashraful took Lakmal for 15 in an over, which included a pull to square leg, which brought up Ashraful's fifty.
Bangladesh delayed the Powerplay till the 45th over, and in that passage, they made 43 and took two wickets. Mahmudullah brought up the first six of the innings, a slog over deep square leg, before he was trapped in front trying to sweep Randiv. Ashraful fell with nine balls left in the innings, run out while trying to steal a bye.
The crowd were kept entertained after his departure by Naeem, who tore apart a hapless Lakmal for two sixes and a four over the on side in the final over. Shakib said at the toss that this was a "minimum 250" wicket. It didn't look possible at 74 for 4, but over the next couple of hours, his batsmen fulfilled that target.
