Asia Cup, SL vs Ban: 5 Unnoticed things from the match 

It was time for some white-ball action as all the Asian teams were geared up for the multi-nation tournament in the form of Asia Cup. In the opening encounter at Dubai, Sri Lanka was up against the Bangladeshi Tigers, as they looked to take revenge for their recent loss in the Nidahas Trophy, earlier this year.

Off-late, both the Asian teams have developed a fierce rivalry, with Bangladesh being backed by some recent success in the limited overs format, while Sri Lanka seems to go through a rebuilding phase after some of the greats hung their boots.

It was a game that witnessed ebbs and flows before the Tigers emerged victorious by 137 runs as Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on the start provided by their seamers on a dry wicket. Lankans were wayward in their plans in the death overs to allow Rahim to guide his side to a defendable total of 261 runs. In response, Sri Lanka, crumbled to a paltry score of 124 runs to end on the losing side.

Here's a look at some of the things that went unnoticed from the match:

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#5. Malinga makes a spectacular return

This was the only positive as Sri Lanka's veteran pace bowler made a spectacular return to the international cricket. He was the only major threat in the Sri Lankan bowling lineup who looked to cause some damage with the ball.

After an exile of more than a year from the game, Malinga made a dream comeback as he registered figures of 4 for 23 in his 10 overs. He wreaked havoc into the opposition camp and bowled with enormous intensity to give it all for his team. He was quick and bowled some superb deliveries, reminding us of his younger days in cricket.

His accuracy with the new ball and two wickets in the first over, made it clear that he was a man on a mission.

#4. Mushfiqur Rahim registers his highest ODI score of 144

It was a day to remember for the Bangladeshi wicket-keeper batsman as Rahim clobbered the Sri Lankan bowlers all over the park. He played a decisive knock to power his side to a respectable total in the first innings. He came in at a crucial stage with his team in all sorts of trouble, but his gritty knock of 144 made sure that Bangladesh was well in the game.

This was also his highest score in ODI history as he surpassed his previous best of 114* against India in Asia Cup game in 2014 at Fatullah. Eventually, his knock proved to be the difference between the two sides as Sri Lanka could never recover from the setback of the death overs.

#3. Dropped catches prove too costly for the Lankans

It was only in the fifth over of the first innings when Angelo Mathews dropped a low diving catch off Malinga to give a reprieve to Bangladesh's Mohammed Mithun. The youngster was batting on just 1 as he went onto score a remarkable half-century with a score of 63, before he was eventually caught by the Keeper.

Also, in the tenth over of the innings, Rahim was given a life when he was batting on just 10 as Dilruwan Perera dropped him off Thisara Perera in his bid to flick it towards the square leg-region. This proved too costly for the Sri Lankans as the duo went onto stitch a crucial partnership and helped the team out of some deep trouble.

#2. Highest partnership for the 8th-wicket in the Sri Lankan innings

It was a dismal batting performance by Sri Lanka as none of the batters could survive against the Bangladeshi attack. It was a pitch that didn't have much for the bowlers but still, the bowlers made life difficult for the Sri Lankan batters to pose no threat to their first innings total.

It could be understood from the fact that their highest partnership encountered in the innings, was for the 8th wicket as Suranga Lakmal and Dilruwan Perera played some strokes before the former was cleaned up by Mustafizur Rahman. In less than 7 overs, they accumulated 27 runs for the 8th wicket stand.

#1. Bangladesh register their biggest win by runs in Asia Cup

After a spectacular recovery in the first innings, the Tigers were backed beautifully by their bowlers later on in the 2nd innings as they wrap up the Sri Lankan innings for a meagre 124 runs on the board. In doing so, they won the inaugural game by 137 runs.

This was also their biggest win in terms of the margin of runs in the Asia Cup. It was a great turnaround especially in the death overs, as Mushfiqur Rahim went berserk to help his side to such a total which eventually looked a lot for the opposition in the end.