Saif and Hridoy star as clinical Bangladesh down hapless Lanka

Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy smacked brilliant fifties as Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in their Super Four match of the Asia Cup by four wickets.

- Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Reporter

Mustafizur Rahman took three and Mahedi Hassan two as Bangladesh restricted Lanka to 168/7 and chased down the target for the loss of six wickets with one ball to spare.

Bangladesh's wobbling start was overshadowed by a blitzkrieg 59-run stand between Saif and captain Litton Das.

After Thusara, who took a four-wicket haul against Afghanistan, rattled the stumps of Tanzid for a duck to put Bangladesh on the back foot, Saif took the charge in his hands to lead the charge.

He, along with Das, set the tone for a successful chase. He changed the gears in the third over and took 14 runs off Thusara with the help of a six and a four.

After that there was no looking back as the Bangladeshi pair hammered all the bowlers alike. After collecting IO in the next over off Wellalage, Saif again plundered 15 off Thusara's next over, forcing the Lanka captain to make a bowling change.

Both the batsmen not only kept the Lankan bowlers at bay but also dominated the match for the next five overs as Bangladesh reached 50 in 5.2 overs.

Hasaranga broke the partnership to bring a temporary respite to their camp. Lanka was oblivious of the storm that was going to blow them away.