Asia Cup 2018: 5 reasons why Bangladesh won against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh started off the Asia Cup campaign smashing Sri Lanka on the opening day of the tournament thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim's career-best 144 and the hard-working effort from the bowlers.

Despite having a lean start after winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bangladesh managed to collect a competitive total of 261 runs that proved to be too good for Sri Lanka to chase down. Bangladesh will face Afghanistan on their second group-match on 20 September.

Analyzing this victory of Bangladesh, here are five reasons why the Tigers won the match.

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#5 An invaluable effort by Mohammad Mithun

ICC World Twenty20 India 2016: Australia v Bangladesh

Mohammad Mithun got a chance in the Bangladesh ODI team to fill the need of having a hard hitter in the lower order, albeit he usually bats on the top of the order.

Mithun was not a part of Bangladesh for a long time. He was recalled earlier this year in the tri-series at home. But, the right-handed batsman failed to prove his merit in the ODIs. Mohammad Mithun managed to get another chance by playing a couple of crucial knocks for Bangladesh A during their Ireland tour.

In the Asia Cup opener, Mithun got a golden chance to prove himself once again when Bangladesh lost early wickets. Mithun did not disappoint this time as he smashed his maiden ODI fifty while registering highest 3rd wicket partnership for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka.

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#2 The tremendous display from Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim is celebrating his century against Sri Lanka at Dubai

Despite losing early wickets, Bangladesh managed to score a respectable total of 261 runs mainly due to the tremendous effort of Mushfiqur Rahim. He hit his sixth ODI ton alongside adding 131 runs for the 3rd wicket with Mohammad Mithun.

Bangladesh lost their opener Liton Das having added only one run on the board. The situation got more harrowing for Bangladesh as they lost Shakib Al Hasan without adding anything more on the scoresheet just in next delivery of Lasith Malinga.

Standing on that uncertain position, Mushfiqur and Mithun brought the team to a safe zone. Mithun got dismissed scoring 63. And, Mushfiqur did more as he hit the highest individual score (144) in the Asia Cup by a Bangladeshi batsman. And, this was his personal best ODI knock too.

#3 Tamim Iqbal batting with a broken wrist

Tamim is treated by the physio after injuring his wrist

It was only for a short time of three overs, but, that made a big difference in the match. Everyone thought that the Bangladesh innings came to an end when Mustafizur Rahman got out as the ninth batsman. But, Tamim Iqbal had other ideas as he went out of the field earlier having injured his left wrist by a bouncer from Suranga Lakmal.

He had to go to the hospital directly from the stadium to check if there was any fracture. A scan suggested that the worst already happened, that made Tamim's further participation in the event uncertain. So, there was no chance for him to come to the middle to bat again, but he came back and stayed for three overs to accompany Mushfiqur Rahim.

After Tamim came to the wicket, Mushfiqur Rahim added another invaluable 32 runs with three sixes and three fours. This helped Bangladesh to put up a firm total of 261 runs on the board that gave Bangladeshi bowlers the courage to attack Sri Lankan batsmen. And of course, Mushfiqur got the fuel from the great bravery of Tamim Iqbal.

#2 Taking early wickets

England v Bangladesh - ICC Champions Trophy

Chasing a total of 261 runs is not a tough task nowadays, especially, on the flat tracks in UAE. Sri Lanka would have been confident enough of chasing it down. But they could not do that as the Bangladeshi bowlers took some quick wickets.

Mustafizur Rahman was the bowler who drew first blood as he dismissed Kusal Mendis. After Mustafizur showed the path, Mashrafe Mortaza took two more scalps, and thus Sri Lanka lost they way to start off the Asia Cup on a positive note.

Mortaza bowled Upul Tharanga who already had scored 27 in just 16 deliveries. He was making a case for a counter-attack. But, the captain of the Tigers did not give him that chance while he also dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva who failed to add anything on the board.

These early wickets set the stage for Bangladesh to cheer at the end of the match. Bangladesh captain Mortaza had said in the pre-tournament press conference that, they wanted to start off the event with a win and they did just that.

#1 Clever display by Bangladeshi spinners

Bangladeshi spinners were tremendous in this match

Alongside the Bangladeshi pacers, their spinners were also tremendous to face match-situations. Mustafizur Rahman and Mashrafe Mortaza took first three wickets to make Sri Lanka feel helpless. And, when spinners came to attack, they simply bowled wicket to wicket and put the pressure even further on the Sri Lankan batsmen.

Mehidy Hasan bowled seven overs and took two wickets while conceding just 21 runs. His economy rate of 3.00 was the second lowest after Lasith Malinga among the bowlers who had bowled at least five overs in this match.

Mehidy took the wickets of Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera. Everybody knows that any one of them can change the fortune of any match.

Despite not being 100 per cent fit, Shakib also was one of the best bowlers of this match as he bowled 9.2 overs just conceding 31 runs. The pitch of the Dubai International Stadium wasn't at its best for the spinners, but, Mehidy and Shakib did not care about that. They bowled smartly and reaped the benefits!