Desk Report:
Saif Hasan and Towhid Hridoy were unable to match themselves in that way. They were regularly criticized and ridiculed. The two Bangladeshi cricketers, who were stung by criticism, must have thought – how much longer! Hridoy-Saif responded to their batting against Sri Lanka yesterday in Dubai.
Bangladesh, chasing a target of 169 runs set by Sri Lanka in the Super Four last night, won by 4 wickets with 1 ball in hand. Saif and Hridoy laid the foundation for a breathless victory. Both scored fifties. These two Bangladeshi batsmen batted aggressively so that Sri Lanka could not sit still. After the match, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) posted a picture of Saif-Hridoy on its official Facebook page. In the picture, a lion is seen sitting between Hridoy and Saif. Saif is stroking the head of that lion. The picture is written on it, ‘They have tamed the lion.’ Praising the two Bangladeshis, the ACC captioned it, ‘These are the two tigers. Who roared against the Sri Lankan lions.’
Tanjid Hasan Tamim was bowled before he could open the scorebook on the fifth ball of the innings by Nuwan Tushara. Liton Das and Saif Hasan put on a 59-run stand off 34 balls for the second wicket. Saif then contributed to a 54-run stand off 45 balls with Towhid Hridoy for the third wicket. Saif played an innings of 61 runs off 45 balls and won the Man of the Match award. He took two catches as a fielder. Hridoy scored 58 runs off 37 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle praised this young Bangladesh cricketer. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza congratulated Bangladesh led by Liton Das for their 4-wicket win with 1 ball in hand.
Sri Lanka is Hridoy’s favorite opponent. He scored the highest 555 runs in his international career against the Sri Lankans. Hridoy got the opportunity to bat in 18 innings in ODIs and T20Is. Made 5 fifties. Hridoy averages 39.64 against his favorite opponent. After Bangladesh’s 4-wicket win last night, the 24-year-old batsman wrote on his official Facebook page, ‘There is always effort, but luck and sustenance may not always be the same. I play for Bangladesh, I am committed to fighting on the field even if I give my highest and last. Thank God for all the bad and good.’ Bangladesh will play against India and Pakistan in the other two Super Four matches on September 24 and 25. Liton Das-Hridoy will play all the Super Four matches in Dubai.
