ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup Sri Lanka ‘A’ prevail in high scoring game

By M. Shamil Amit
Hosts Sri Lanka ‘A’ got off to a winning start in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup limited over tournament prevailing with a 48-run win over Bangladesh ‘A’ in a high-scoring encounter played at the SSC ground yesterday.
Bangladesh ‘A’, chasing a big target of 350 runs, were making steady progress after openers Mohammad Naim Sheikh and Tanzid Hasan gave them a good start putting on 69 runs for the opening wickets.
The latter also and Mohammed Saif Hasan shared a valuable 78 runs for the third wicket.

They lost three quick wickets for the addition of 32 runs as they slid from 152 for 3 to 191 for 6.
However, the late order batting put in some resistance but the asking rate kept rising.
Nevertheless a 48-run stand for the seventh wicket between Mahedi Hasan and Rakibul Hassan, who shared another stand of 52 runs for the ninth wicket with Ripon Mondol, was insufficient as they fell short of 48 runs being bowled out for 301 runs.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ were invited to take first lease of the wicket and opener Avishka Fernando slammed 133 in 124 balls which had 13 boundaries and three sixes, helping the home side post a formidable score of 349 for 8.

Sri Lanka ‘A’s formidable score came on the back of four valuable partnerships with Fernando being  involved in three of those -- first an opening wicket stand of 51 runs with Lasith Croospulle, followed by a second wicket stand of 125 runs with Minod Bhanuka who made 57.
The other was of 75 runs for the fourth wicket with Pasindu Sooriyabandara.
Later Ashen Bandara along with skipper Dunith Wellalage associated in a 62-run stand for the sixth wicket, the pair separated with the score on 333 for 6 with 11 balls of the innings left. The home team lost two quick wickets for the addition of 16 runs to end on 349 for 8.

Result:
At SSC – Sri Lanka ‘A’ won by 48 runs
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 349 for 8 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 133, Minod Bhanuka 57, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 43, Ashen Bandara 35, Lasith Croospulle 31, Dunith Wellalage 31: Soumaya Sarkar 3 for 52, Ripon Mondol 3 for 71)  
Bangladesh ‘A’ 301 in 48.3 overs (Mohammed Saif Hasan 53, Tanzid Hasan 51, Soumya Sarkar 42, Rakibul Hasan 40, Mahedi Hasan 31, Zakir Hasan 26, Mohammad Naim Sheikh 15, Ripon Mondol 16 n.o.: Pramod Madushan 3 for 50, Dushan Hemantha 3 for 54, Sahan Arachchige 2 for 62)