Last Update on: November 7th, 2023 at 04:28 pm
Former Pakistan Cricketer Wasim Akram feels that Sri Lanka didn’t do justice to the conditions by scoring a meager 279 on a batting-friendly track at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Bangladesh won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera in the very first over. Skipper Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka made a 61-run partnership for the second wicket but then lost their wickets in consecutive overs.
Sadeera Samarwickrama and Charith Asalanka added 63 runs for the fourth wicket but eventually, Sadeera was out in the 25th over and after that, Angelo Mathews was controversially timed out after he failed to take the guard within two minutes of Sadeera’s dismissal. Charith Asalanka went on to score a terrific hundred scoring 108 off 105 balls.
“They didn’t do justice to themselves, especially on this pitch, jo abhi tak World Cup k sabse zyada runs banane waali pitch hai. Sadeera was set on 41, wo koi jagah thhi out hone waali?” Akram questioned.
Watch: Wasim Akram Criticising Sri Lanka’s Batting Order
“They didn’t do justice…” @wasimakramlive comments on Bangladesh’s narrow victory over Sri Lanka.#ASportsHD #ARYZAP #CWC23 #ThePavilion #WasimAkram #ShoaibMalik #MoinKhan #FakhreAlam #MisbahulHaq #BANvSL pic.twitter.com/o1SmT031GM
— ASports (@asportstvpk) November 6, 2023
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 279 in the last over of their innings. Tanzim Hasan Shakib took three wickets and helped Bangladesh to restrict Sri Lanka to a total of 279. While chasing, Bangladesh lost their openers early but Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan stitched a match-winning partnership of 169 runs to take the Tigers close to the target of 280.
Wasim Akram also praised the Bangladesh players, especially Najmul Hossain Shanto and the skipper Shakib Al Hasan. Both of them were having a difficult time with the bat but they contributed in this grudge match against Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh were the first team to be officially eliminated from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 but a win for Sri Lanka would have ensured their life in the competition, although only mathematically as India and South Africa have already qualified for the Semi-Finals.
Sri Lanka will face New Zealand in their last match of the World Cup and it is going to be a dead rubber for them. However, from New Zealand’s point of view, it is an important match given that they are fighting for that Semi-final berth with Pakistan. If New Zealand wins against Sri Lanka, they will have an upper hand given their better NRR than Pakistan.
