The Asia Cup 2018 kicks-off with an outstanding big victory from Bangladesh against Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai). Bangladesh made a sensational comeback into this game after their shaky start as still, they managed to score a fighting total of 261 runs (49.3 overs) on which Sri Lanka replied with just 124 runs (35.2 overs).

In that Group B encounter, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza decided to bat first after winning the toss in the opening game of the tournament. Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga returned to the ODI cricket in a great tone as he picked up two back-to-back wickets in the last two balls of the opening over of the tournament by dismissing the opener Liton Das (0) and the no.3 batsman Shakib Al Hasan (0). In his next over, Malinga was on a hat-trick but failed to achieve that.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh suffered a major blow in the second over of the game when another opener Tamim Iqbal received a hit on his left wrist during his failed attempt to play a pull shot against Suranga Lakmal. In result, Tamim was retired-hurt as Bangladesh was on just 3/2 at the end of 2 overs.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and no.5 batsman Mohammad Mithun rescued the team from that difficult situation as both provided a crucial 131-run partnership for the third wicket that set them for a respectable total.

However, once that partnership was broken as Mithun was dismissed on 63 runs of 68 balls (5 fours and 2 sixes), Bangladesh lost their next wickets in regular intervals but Mushfiqur held the wicket from the other end and carried on that innings till the end with a brilliant century.

When Bangladesh was batting on 229/9 in 46.5 overs, injured Tamim Iqbal returned to the crease with the fractured wrist. He provided full support to Mushfiqur, who scored 144 runs off 150 balls (11 fours and 4 sixes) before losing his wicket at the end. Bangladesh was bowled out for 261 runs in 49.3 overs while Tamim was not out on 2 runs off 4 balls and likely to be ruled out from this remaining tournament.

Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, the comeback man Lasith Malinga (4/23) bagged four wickets while Dhananjaya de Silva (2/38) picked up two wickets. Also, Suranga Lakmal (1/46), Amila Aponso (1/55) and Thisara Perera (1/51) got one wicket each. The Sri Lankan fielding was very poor as they dropped some important catches that hurt the team mostly.

In reply, Sri Lanka was bundled out for just 124 runs (35.2 overs) as they lost this game by 137 runs. None of the Sri Lankan batsmen reached the 30-run marks while only Upul Tharanga (27), Dilruwan Perera (29) and Suranga Lakmal (20) reached the 20-run marks.

Among the Bangladesh bowlers, skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (2/25), left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (2/20) and the off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2/21) picked up two wickets each while Shakib Al Hasan (1/31), Rubel Hossain (1/18) and Mosaddek Hossain (1/8) claimed one wicket each.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh – 261 in 49.3 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 144, Mohammad Mithun 63; Lasith Malinga 4/23)

Sri Lanka – 124 in 35.2 overs (Dilruwan Perera 29, Upul Tharanga 27; Mustafizur Rahman 2/20)

Result – Bangladesh won by 137 runs

Important stats highlights of the match:

• Bangladesh batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun put a crucial game-changing 131-run partnership for the third wicket. It is their second highest ODI partnership against Sri Lanka. The record is 144 between Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan for the fourth wicket at Dambulla on March 25, 2017.
• Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 144 runs. It is the second joint highest knock in the Asia Cup history (former Pakistan batsman Younis Khan also scored 144 runs against Hong Kong at Colombo, SSC on July 18, 2004). The record is 183 by Virat Kohli (India) against Pakistan at Dhaka on March 18, 2012.
• Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 144 runs. The second best ODI knock by a Bangladesh batsman as the record is 154 by Tamim Iqbal against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on August 16, 2009.
• Bangladesh batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal put another crucial 32-run partnership for the 10th wicket. It is the highest 10th wicket partnership in the Asia Cup history. The previous record was 30* between the Pakistan batsmen Sarfraz Ahmed and Aizaz Cheema against Bangladesh at Dhaka on March 22, 2012.
• Sri Lanka was bundled out for just 124 runs (35.2 overs). It is their lowest completed ODI total against Bangladesh. The previous record was 147 (30.3 overs) at Dhaka on January 14, 2009.
• Bangladesh won this match by 137 runs. It is the largest ODI victory (by runs) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai). The previous record was winning by 84 runs by England against Pakistan on November 20, 2015.
• Bangladesh won this match by 137 runs. It is their largest victory (by runs) in the Asia Cup history. Their previous record was winning by 116 runs against Hong Kong at Colombo (SSC) on July 16, 2004.
• Bangladesh won this match by 137 runs. It is their largest ODI victory (by runs) outside the home soil. Their previous record was winning by 121 runs against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on May 3, 2013.
• Bangladesh won this match by 137 runs. It is their second largest ODI victory (by runs) against Sri Lanka. Their record is winning by 163 runs at Dhaka on January 19, 2018.
• It was the sixth time in the Asia Cup history where both teams were bowled out in a match. Since 2008 Asia Cup, it was the first time when both teams were bowled out in an Asia Cup match.