Tigers end Asia Cup winless

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews batted with composure to lead his side from the front to a nervy three-wicket win over Bangladesh in the last first round match of the Asia Cup in Mirpur yesterday. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

The Tigers completed their Asia Cup campaign without a win as they lost their final game against Sri Lanka by three wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Mushfiqur Rahim's men lost another close contest as Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews led from the front to help his side recover from early hiccups to continue their dominance over the Tigers and finish the round-robin league unbeaten.

They now meet Pakistan in tomorrow's final at this venue.
Squandering advantages became a habit for the Tigers in recent times and yesterday was no exception. There were little hopes when the home side put up only 204 runs on the board, but pacer Al-Amin Hossain gave the hosts some hope with two wickets in his first two overs. But an 86-run sixth wicket stand between Mathews and Chaturanga de Silva dashed Bangladesh's chances to finish the campaign with at least one win ahead of the ICC World Twenty20. Bangladesh's performance was a total contrast from their 2012 heroics where they finished runners-up.
De Silva was dropped when his team still needed 49 runs, but it was not a costly one as he was dismissed by Mahmudullah Riyad in the very next over and next-in Thisara Perera also fell victim of a run out, but Mathews took his side home with one over remaining by scoring an unbeaten 74. And on the other hand, what remained for the hosts was a lack of 'winning mentality'.
Al-Amin gave the breakthrough on the very second ball of the innings as Kusal Perera edged to the keeper and in the next over, the big fish was in the net as Kumar Sangakkara edged him to first slip where Nasir Hossain obliged in the second attempt.
The visitors were reduced to 8 for 3 as another stalwart Mahela Jayawardene got out for a duck in the next over and credit must go to Mahmudullah who perfectly gathered the ball from cover and made an accurate throw to send back the right-hander.
Earlier, the opening pair, though it was a different combination as Shamsur Rahman came in place of injured Imrul Kayes, seemed to start from where they had finished off against Pakistan. Anamul Haque, who hit a hundred in that heartbreaking loss, batted sensibly with Shamsur but spinner Ajantha Mendis seized the initiative removing Shamsur, who was trapped in front, to put an end to the 74-run partnership.
Mominul Hoque was dismissed in the same over as the young left-hander tried to play a full length delivery half-heartedly from the crease, but it spun away from middle and leg to uproot off stump. Then Anamul fell one run short of his fifty and Shakib Al Hasan walked to the pavilion cheaply to make sure Bangladesh lose their five top batsmen within 45 runs in trying conditions where playing shots was difficult on the slow surface.
Two struggling batsmen, Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah, shared a 55-run sixth wicket stand but failed to finish the game on a high note.