Nidahas Trophy: Mahmudullah lifts Bangladesh to final

Sports Desk: Bangladesh will face India in the final of the tri-nation T20I Nidahas Trophy as Tigers beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets in the 6th match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

The hosts, thanks to Kusal Perera’s 61 runs, managed to score 159 runs losing seven wickets in 20 overs.

The wicketkeeper Kusal Perera hit 61 runs off 40 balls with 7 fours and a six.

Thisara Perera (c) bagged 58 runs of 37 balls which includes three sixes and three fours.

For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman earned two wickets off 39 runs. Shakib Al Hasan (c), Rubel Hossain, Mehidy Hasan and Soumya Sarkar shared a wicket.

In chase, Bangladesh reached 160 runs losing 8 wickets with remaining a ball left.

Tamim Iqbal hit a brilliant fifty to help Bangladesh to secure berth in the final. His innings of 50 runs off 42 balls includes 4 fours and 2 sixes.

Sabbir Rahman bagged 13 runs off 8 balls with three fours while Liton Das hit duck.

Mushfiqur Rahim scored 28 runs off 25 balls which includes 2 fours while Soumya Sarkar earned 10 runs off 11 balls.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan scored 7 runs from 8 balls while Mahmudullah hit 43 runs off 18 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes to lift Bangladesh to the final.

For Sri Lanks, Akila Dananjaya earned 2 wickets off 37 runs. Amila Aponso, Danushka Gunathilaka, Isuru Udana and Jeevan Mendis got a wicket.

risingbd/Dhaka/March 16, 2018/A K Azad