SRI LANKA'S CLINICAL WIN OVER BANGLADESH SETS UP STRONG START

Sri Lanka got off to the best possible start to their Asia Cup campaign as the reigning T20 champions swept past Bangladesh with a performance that was clinical and assured on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi.

- By CHAMPIKA FERNANDO IN ABU DHABI

A six-wicket victory, achieved with more than five overs to spare, sent a clear message about their intent to retain the T20 crown.

The win was built on the aggression of Pathum Nissanka and the calm authority of Kamil Mishara. At just 24 and only six matches into his T20 international career, Mishara already looks like the solution to Sri Lanka’s number-three dilemma. His unbeaten 46 off 32 balls guided the chase with minimum fuss and earned him a second successive Man-of-the-Match award—he was also awarded the honor against Zimbabwe in the final T20 of the three-match series.

“T expect to finish every game I play,” Mishara said afterward. “They have given me a role, and that is to bat through the innings and finish. That is what I try to do.”

And he did just that. Arriving at the crease with the scoreboard showing 13/1 after the early exits of Kusal Mendis, Mishara displayed composure well beyond his years. He combined with Nissanka in a decisive partnership worth 95 runs from only 52 balls, breaking Bangladesh’s grip, if they had any, on the contest.