Dubai : Tail-ender Asitha Fernando showed exceptional composure under pressure to hit two match-defining boundaries that took Sri Lanka to the Super 4 of the Asia Cup with a thrilling two-wicket victory over bitter rivals Bangladesh here on Thursday. Chasing a target of 184, Sri Lanka won with an anti-climax reserved for the final over when off-spinner Mahedi Hasan overstepped while bowling the third delivery. While Kusal Mendis (60 off 37 balls) and skipper Dasun Shanaka (45 off 33 balls) set up the victory, it wouldn’t have been possible without Fernando’s brilliant temperament.With Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan having already exhausted Mustafizur Rahaman’s quota of overs, he had no option but to give inexperienced Mahedi the ball and Fernando slog swept his second delivery to seal the fate of the game, which could have otherwise belonged to Ebadot.To rub it in, the Sri Lankans did the ‘Nagin Dance’ patented by the Bangladeshi cricketers as the pre-match build-up has been anything but sober.Ebadot, the sprightly speedster, who also happens to be a Bangladesh Air Force man, bowled a good first spell of two overs in which he bowled three short balls that accounted for three Lankan batters.
Kusal Mendis, Player of the Match, said, First six overs, I went with my normal game and then the next four overs, I went with my shots. (On the no ball) It was a good option, I got to bat again. I had two chances, so today was my day. I got to 60 runs and did the best for my team. I have had practice in Sri Lanka for the last six months to a year, everyday I am learning and I know what the team wants from me. Thank you very much for the support, Sri LankanShanaka, said,Dasun Shanaka At the middle period, I thought it was tough. But when myself and Kusal were batting, I thought it was achievable. I think the openers did a good job, we discussed that we needed that opening partnership for the start. Today, that was the key and that’s why we chased down this total. I thought of promoting myself, but from the team’s point I have to sacrifice to come down and play as a finisher. My first priority is for the team. I think Chamika’s run out, we thought the game was gone. But Asitha Fernando scored those two shots very well, these guys have so much potential. It is lovely to see.Shakib Al Hasan, said, I think a few poor overs cost us the game. In the last over they were 8 down, but they got there with four balls in hand. That shows we aren’t bowling well in the death, but credit to Sri Lanka for the way they batted. I think Dasun did very well. We wanted to pick wickets early, but the bowlers couldn’t execute their plans and that’s why the spinner bowled the last over. The last six months we haven’t played well, but we have been competitive in these last two games. World Cup will be a different challenge now, we have to improve. We feel sorry for our fans, everywhere we go we get such superb support.