Dhaka: Bangladesh denied host Sri Lanka by five wickets with two balls remaining in the 3^rd T20I of the tri-nation Nidahas Trophy—recording the world’s 4^th and the Tigers highest successful run chase—at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

The Tigers chased down a target of 215 runs for five wickets in 19.4 overs where man of the match Mushfiqur Rahim displayed a dashing innings of unbeaten 72* off  35 balls firing five boundaries and four boundaries.

Tigers started the tri-series with a six-wicket loss against India on March 8 in the tournament, while Sri Lanka started with a five-wicket win against India in the opener on March 6.

They got a win after five successive losses in T20I cricket and registered 2^nd win in their 15 T20Is to get back to their form.

Bangladesh got a win in any international match in January 23 in an ODI against Zimbabwe.

Australia recorded the highest run chase in T20I history as they reached 245/5 to beat New Zealand (243/6) by five wickets with seven balls left in the 5^th match of the Trans-Tasman Tri Series in Auckland on February 16, 2018. Australia leapfrogged the previous record of West Indies (236/6 in 19.2 overs) against South Africa (231/7 in 20 overs) for a 4-wicket win in Johannesburg on January 11, 2015.

The 3^rd highest run chase registered by England (230/8 in 19.4 overs) against South Africa (229/4 in 20 overs) for two wicket win at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India in March 2015. 

In the day’s match, Bangladesh needed nine runs in the innings death over and Mushfiq filled the gap off four balls—taking 2, 4, 2 and 1 runs—delivered by pace all-rounder Thisara Perera. 

Coming at the crease on 100/2 in 9.3 overs after the dismissal of opener Tamim Iqbal (47 off 29b; 6x4; 1x6), Mushfiq continued till the end and shared in the two vital partnership stands with Soumya Sarkar and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad for 51 off 5.1 overs and 42 off 3.1 overs in the 3^rd and 4^th wickets respectively.

Tamim built a solid stand of 74 off 5.5 over in the opening stand with and Liton Kumar Das (43 off 19b; 2x4; 5x6) before Nuwan Pradeep Fernando lbw Liton. Tamim was caught by Thisara Perera, leaving his team collection on 100/2 in 9.3 overs from where Mushfiq started his show.

Soumya Sarkar (24 off 22b; 2x4; 1x6) and Mahmudullah (20 off 11b; 1x4; 1x6) were two other double digit scorers for Bangladesh.

Nuwan Pradeep Fernando got two wickets for 37 in four overs while Thisara Perera (1/36) and Dushmantha Chameera (1/44) shared two wickets for Lankans.

Earlier, sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka scored 214/6 in 20 overs where two wicketkeeper batsmen Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis hammered half centuries.

Perera scored 74 off 48 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes, and shared a partnership of 85 off 9.1 overs in the 2^nd wicket with Mendis who was caught by Sabbir Rahman off skipper Mahmudullah Riyad on 141/2 in 13.2 overs, after scoring 57 off 30 balls, including two boundaries and five over boundaries.

Left-handed batsman Perera again contributed in the quick firing 5^th stand of 55 off 4.2 overs with Upul Tharanga (32* off 15b; 4x4; 1x6) before he was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mustafizur Rahman on 205/5 in 19.2 overs.

Sri Lankans were aggressive from the start of the innings as their opening pair between Danushka Gunathilaka and Mendis contributed 56 off 4.3 overs before pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman bowled out opener MD Gunathilaka (26 off 19b; 3x4; 1x6) for Bangladesh’s first breakthrough.

To complete his three for 48 in four overs, Mustafizur sent off left handed all-rounder Thisara Perera, caught by Nazmul Islam, with duck on 206/6 on 19.4 overs.

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad got two wickets for 15 in two overs while Taskin Ahmed took one for 40 in three overs for the Tigers.