Bangladesh Pulls Off Stunning Upset Over Sri Lanka in Thrilling Asia Cup Opener

BANGLADESH STUNS SRI LANKA IN THRILLING SUPER FOURS MATCH AT ASIA CUP DHAKA, BANGLADESH - In a nail-biting finish, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the opening Super Four match of the Asia Cup on Saturday. The thrilling contest saw attacking half-centuries from Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy propel Bangladesh to victory with a ball to spare. Hassan's 61 runs off 45 balls, including two fours and four sixes, set the tone for the Bangladeshi team. Hridoy's 58 off 37, featuring two sixes, further solidified their chances of winning. The duo's impressive batting display left Sri Lanka reeling. "We knew it was going to be a tough match, but our batsmen played exceptionally well," Bangladesh captain Liton Das said in a post-match interview. "Saif and Towhid's partnership was the turning point for us." Sri Lanka, who won the toss and chose to bat first, managed 168-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Kusal Mendis top-scored with 43 runs off 32 balls. Bangladesh's chase was far from smooth sailing, however. The team faced a dramatic final over, needing five runs off six deliveries. Jaker Ali's crucial four on the first ball of the over sparked hopes of victory, but he was bowled soon after. Dasun Shanaka then sent back Mahedi Hasan for a duck. In the penultimate delivery, Nasum Ahmed and Shamim Hossain ran hard to end Sri Lanka's unbeaten run, securing Bangladesh's win with a ball to spare. The Asia Cup is Bangladesh's first major international tournament since their historic victory in the 2019 ICC World Cup Qualifier. The team has been on a roll, winning several matches against top-ranked teams. Bangladesh's next match will be against India on September 22 at the same venue. In related news, Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur expressed disappointment with his team's performance. "We didn't execute our plans well enough," he said. "Credit to Bangladesh for playing some excellent cricket." The Asia Cup continues to captivate audiences worldwide, with several thrilling matches already taking place. The tournament is set to conclude on October 8. With this stunning victory, Bangladesh has sent a strong message to their opponents and fans alike: they are a force to be reckoned with in international cricket. *Reporting by Aljazeera.*