Sri Lanka won the first 10 Asia Cup clashes between the sides – and even that does not tell the full story of how dominant they were, for a time. When batting first, they won once by 71 runs, and the rest by three-digit margins. And they won their four chases by at least seven wickets and 81 balls.

To sum up, it used to be a one-sided contest until the 2012 edition in Bangladesh.

“This was one such moment”

The teams met in the last match of the league stage. Pakistan had already qualified for the final (thanks to the prevalent bonus point system), while Sri Lanka were already out of the reckoning. But Bangladesh, having beaten India, stood with a chance if they beat Sri Lanka.

Let by Nazmul Hossain (3-30), they first bowled out Sri Lanka for 232. It rained after that, and Bangladesh’s target was altered to 212 in 40 overs. They soon fell to 40-3 before Tamim Iqbal (59) and Shakib Al Hasan (56) added 76. But both fell in quick succession, and they still needed another 77. Nasir Hossain (36*) and Mahmudullah (32*) ensured there were no further hiccups.

It was only the second time in their history that Bangladesh featured in the final of a multi-nation tournament. What was more, it did wonders to the morale of fans whose passion for cricket had seldom been matched by their team’s performance until then. “Very occasionally, a game of cricket changes the mood of a nation: this was one such moment,” reported the Wisden Almanack.

The spell is broken

Sri Lanka hit back when the teams met two years later at the same venue. The Bangladesh openers added 76, but the middle order lost their way, and the finished on 204-9. This time, however, there was going to be no meek surrender a la pre-2012. Sri Lanka became 8-3, then 75-5 before Angelo Mathews and Chaturanga de Silva added 82 to steady the ship. Sri Lanka won by three wickets, but it was certainly not an easy win.

Bangladesh hit back in 2016, yet again at the same venue, when the tournament was played in T20I format for the first time. They recovered from 24-3 to post 147-7, largely due to Sabbir Rahman’s 54-ball 80. Sri Lanka were in with a chance at 76-1 in the 11th over before a middle-order collapse restricted them to 124-8.

The one-armed hero

Bangladesh had won two of their last three Asia Cup clashes against Sri Lanka, but both had been at home; and while one of the wins had come in a curtailed chase, the other was in a Twenty20 match. Bangladesh were yet to beat Sri Lanka in a full-fledged 50-over match at the Asia Cup, let alone outside home soil.

And things did not look good in Dubai in 2018, when Lasith Malinga (4-23) took out Litton Das and Shakib in the first over. In the second, Suranga Lakmal hit Tamim on the wrist, and he had to retire hurt with a fracture. After two overs, Bangladesh were 3-2, and effectively 3-3.

Mohammad Mithun (63) helped Mushfiqur put on 131, but the middle order caved in. Even as Mushfiqur kept playing exquisite shots at regular intervals, Bangladesh kept losing wickets. When No.11 Mustafizur Rahman was run out, Bangladesh were 229 with one ball left in the 47th over.

But Tamim emerged from the pavilion. His left (bottom) hand was useless for the evening, so he had little option but to bat with one hand. He played out the last ball of Lakmal’s over. Mushfiqur ensured he faced the rest of the partnership – 15 balls – in which he hit three fours and three sixes to score 32. Bangladesh rode on his 144 to reach 261.

There was little resistance thereafter. Sri Lanka soon became 69-7 before somehow managing to reach 124. Bangladesh won their third match against Sri Lanka in four attempts – and made it to the final for the third in four editions.

The scoreline still reads 3-11, but Bangladesh boast a 3-1 lead over the past decade.