Date-stamped : 08 Apr95 - 12:38
ASIA CUP 95: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh
Sharjah, 6 April 1995

Ranatunga lifts Sri Lanka

Captain Arjuna Ranatunga lifted Sri Lanka with 71 in 72 balls  as
Bangladesh  produced their best out-cricket in a one-day interna-
tional on Thursday.  Bangladesh bowled out  a  test-playing  team
for  the  first  time in 11 limited overs matches, dismissing Sri
Lanka for 233 in the Asia Cup  tournament.   However,  Bangladesh
were  then  let  down  by  the  inexperience of their batsmen and
slumped to 126 all out, leaving Sri Lanka winners by 107 runs.

Sri Lanka, put in to bat, were prospering  at  197  for  four  as
Sanath  Jayasuriya (51) and Ranatunga played the major roles. But
their last six wickets tumbled for 36, with medium  pacer  Saiful
Islam  (4-36)  becoming  the first Bangladesh bowler to take four
wickets in a one-day match.

Bangladesh lost in-form opener Athar Ali for two with  just  four
runs  on  the  board,  and  they were always struggling after his
dismissal.  Minhazul Abdein, who made 26 of 37 balls,  and  Akram
Khan  tried to revive the innings but Sri Lanka kept a tight grip
and off-spinner Muthiah Muralidharan  ran  through  the  tail  to
claim four for 23.

India beat Bangladesh on Wednesday in the  opening  game  of  the
four-team competition completed by Pakistan.

<END> Contributed by vicky (vigneswa@risky.ecs.umass.edu)