159/3 (19.0)
CR : 8.37
154/5 (20.0)
CR : 7.70
Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets π
Player of the Match
Kusal Mendis
73(51)
10:08 PM IST, Local Time: Thatβs it. A convincing victory for Sri Lanka over Bangladesh. They win the first T20I by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It was a complete performance from them and Bangladesh will have to quickly get back to the drawing board before the next game.
Chasing 155, Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis came out all guns blazing. They dealt in boundaries and made full use of the fielding restrictions. They brought up the fifty-run opening stand in just 3.1 overs and broke the back of the run-chase.
It was a proper onslaught in Pallekele and Nissanka and Mendis put 78 between them before the former fell on 16-ball 42 in the fifth over. The scoreboard at the end of the powerplay read 83/1. Kusal Perera joined Mendis who kept going strong and brought up his fifty off 31 balls. Perera scored 24 before departing in the 13th over.
Mendis was joined by Avishka Fernando. Mendis scored 73 off 51 balls before falling, with his side requiring just seven to win. Fernando (11*) and skipper Charith Asalanka (8*) remained unbeaten and took their side across the line with an over to spare. The visitors tried hard with the ball but failed to defend the total.
Earlier, Parvez Hossain Emon gave Bangladesh a solid start after they were inserted to bat. Tanzid Hasan (16) and skipper Litton Das (6) fell cheaply but Emon kept going strong and scored 38 off 22 before holing out in the deep in the ninth over. Sri Lanka pulled back things in the middle overs as they bowled tight lines and lengths.
Mohammad Naim held the innings from one end and scored 29-ball 32*. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (29) and Shamim Hossain (14*) played decent hands which powered Bangladesh to 154/5 at the end of their innings. Maheesh Theekshana (2/37), Nuwan Thushara (1/32), Dasun Shanaka (1/22) and Jeffrey Vandersay (1/25) were the wicket-takers for Sri Lanka. The hosts then chased down the total with seven wickets in hand to go 1-0 up in the series.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation.
Chasing 155, Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis came out all guns blazing. They dealt in boundaries and made full use of the fielding restrictions. They brought up the fifty-run opening stand in just 3.1 overs and broke the back of the run-chase.
It was a proper onslaught in Pallekele and Nissanka and Mendis put 78 between them before the former fell on 16-ball 42 in the fifth over. The scoreboard at the end of the powerplay read 83/1. Kusal Perera joined Mendis who kept going strong and brought up his fifty off 31 balls. Perera scored 24 before departing in the 13th over.
Mendis was joined by Avishka Fernando. Mendis scored 73 off 51 balls before falling, with his side requiring just seven to win. Fernando (11*) and skipper Charith Asalanka (8*) remained unbeaten and took their side across the line with an over to spare. The visitors tried hard with the ball but failed to defend the total.
Earlier, Parvez Hossain Emon gave Bangladesh a solid start after they were inserted to bat. Tanzid Hasan (16) and skipper Litton Das (6) fell cheaply but Emon kept going strong and scored 38 off 22 before holing out in the deep in the ninth over. Sri Lanka pulled back things in the middle overs as they bowled tight lines and lengths.
Mohammad Naim held the innings from one end and scored 29-ball 32*. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (29) and Shamim Hossain (14*) played decent hands which powered Bangladesh to 154/5 at the end of their innings. Maheesh Theekshana (2/37), Nuwan Thushara (1/32), Dasun Shanaka (1/22) and Jeffrey Vandersay (1/25) were the wicket-takers for Sri Lanka. The hosts then chased down the total with seven wickets in hand to go 1-0 up in the series.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation.
Kusal Mendis vs Bangladesh in this multi-format series:
Innings: 6
Runs: 387
Average: 64.50
50s: 3
100s: 1
Highest Score: 124
Innings: 6
Runs: 387
Average: 64.50
50s: 3
100s: 1
Highest Score: 124
Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis (Player of the Match): "I think they batted really well to get past 150. Nissanka batted really well at the other end and it helped me.
Wicket became slower and it turned later on. So many balls turned and due to it, I slowed down my game. I tried to stay till the end of 20 overs and finish the game."
Wicket became slower and it turned later on. So many balls turned and due to it, I slowed down my game. I tried to stay till the end of 20 overs and finish the game."
Litton Das (Bangladesh Captain): "The toss, I thought, we were spot on with the batting. The wicket looked good in both innings. When they bowled, a couple of balls stayed low.
In the last 7-8 games, it's disappointing. Someone has to take the responsibility and take us to the big score.
170 is a good total to chase down here. We have a good bowling unit. We didn't bowl well. Taskin is our main bowler and anyone can have an off-day.
Rishad is a brilliant bowler. If he can bowl in the right areas, he will make life difficult for the batters."
In the last 7-8 games, it's disappointing. Someone has to take the responsibility and take us to the big score.
170 is a good total to chase down here. We have a good bowling unit. We didn't bowl well. Taskin is our main bowler and anyone can have an off-day.
Rishad is a brilliant bowler. If he can bowl in the right areas, he will make life difficult for the batters."
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "I think when we were playing in LPL, chasing teams won because of the fast outfield and short boundaries. That was the reason why we bowled first.
Jeffrey Vandersay has been us for a long time on the bench. He doesn't play because of Wanindu and that's the hard fact.
That was a good innings for me. That's what I want to have in my team.
I thought it was a quite complete game for us. Everyone did well. I want to improve our fielding a bit in the T20 side.
The reason was the pitch is decent but only with the new ball. Once it gets old, it starts sticking a bit."
Jeffrey Vandersay has been us for a long time on the bench. He doesn't play because of Wanindu and that's the hard fact.
That was a good innings for me. That's what I want to have in my team.
I thought it was a quite complete game for us. Everyone did well. I want to improve our fielding a bit in the T20 side.
The reason was the pitch is decent but only with the new ball. Once it gets old, it starts sticking a bit."
That's it from us for this encounter. Keep joining us for more cricketing action all around the globe. This is me, Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of scorer Paras Yadav. Until next time, cheers and good bye.