Sri Lanka edged out Bangladesh by three runs in a thrilling contest in the first T20I in Sylhet and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Charith Asalanka was named Player of the Match for his 44* off 21 that helped the visitors to a power score and allowed them to survive the onslaught by Jaker Ali (68 off 34) and defend a total in dewy conditions.
By the time Jaker got on strike, Bangladesh needed ten from four balls. But Shanaka held his nerve to go full on off; Jaker looked to get under the ball but it took the bottom of the bat and stand-in captain Charith Asalanka, at long-off, judged a low catch to his left to perfection. It all came down to the last over in Sylhet. Chasing 207, Bangladesh needed 12, with the rampaging Jaker Ali at the non-striker’s end, but Dasun Shanaka nailed his lines and lengths to help Sri Lanka snatch a three-run win in the first T20I in Sylhet.
Still, it was not done, as Bangladesh’s No. 10 Shoriful Islam slammed his first ball over extra cover, and took a leg-bye off the penultimate ball. That left Taskin Ahmed needing to hit a four to tie and six to win, but he could manage neither. The Sri Lanka fielders started celebrating as soon as Taskin toe-ended another wide, full ball from Shanaka, managing just a single.
But the seeds for this win were sown much earlier, by Sri Lanka’s batters. They reached 206 for 3 despite missing Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera and their regular captain Wanindu Hasaranga, who is serving his suspension for an outburst against the umpires. In their absence, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama struck brisk fifties and Charith Asalanka teed off at the death to produce the most impactful knock of the night. He struck six sixes in his unbeaten 44 off 21 balls.
Pitch and Toss
The three-match T20I series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is set to commence today (March 4). This is a crucial series keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup that is scheduled to take place in June in the West Indies and the USA. With Shakib Al Hasan unavailable, Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named the captain even in the shortest format and the team is brimming with talent as they look to build for the mega event.
Bangladesh meek after Shoriful strikes first blow
The talk of putting past rivalries behind them lasted all of two balls. After Shoriful had Avishka Fernando caught behind, he mimicked Angelo Mathews’ celebration from the two sides’ World Cup match last year; after Shakib and Bangladesh had stirred controversy by appealing – successfully – to have Mathews timed out, Mathews had pointed to his wrist in turn after snagging Shakib in the chase.
Taskin then removed Kamindu Mendis in the fifth over but he had already set the ball rolling with two sixes in his 14-ball 19. Kusal Mendis, who was quiet in the powerplay, properly got going in the 12th over when he struck Rishad Hossain for two consecutive sixes in an 18-run over. The second of those sixes got him to a 28-ball half-century.
Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das dropped Mendis on 56 but it wasn’t too costly. Mahmudullah – playing his first T20I since September 2022 – took a well-judged boundary-line catch to remove him on 59 in the next over. It ended a 96-run third-wicket stand with Samarawickrama, which put Sri Lanka in prime position for the final assault.
Sri Lanka, having been sent in to bat, lost Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis inside the PowerPlay, which they finished at 45/2, but Kusal Mendis (59 off 36) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (61 off 48) added 96 runs for the third wicket in quick time and set the side on course. Once Mendis holed out to off Rishad Hossain’s bowling in the deep, out came Asalanka, hitting 6 sixes in a whirlwind knock that took Sri Lanka past 200.
Charith Asalanka puts on a fiery show
Charith Asalanka led that assault, belting six sixes. He struck Taskin over wide long-on before pasting him over deep square leg in the 17th over. He sliced Mustafizur Rahman over deep third, before hammering a similar shot off Shoriful for a six over cover-point. He struck a wayward Mustafizur for two sixes in the last over too, powerfully over point, and the last one over deep square leg again. Charith Asalanka and Samarawickrama added 73 runs for the unbroken fourth-wicket stand in the last 5.2 overs and propelled Sri Lanka to 206 for 3 .
Angelo Mathews exposes Bangladesh top order
Mathews got Sri Lanka two of their first three breakthroughs as the visitors dominated Bangladesh in the powerplay. Litton played an ill-advised shot – shuffling way outside off stump and then trying to flick to leg – to be caught behind in the first over. Soumya Sarkar skied Binura Fernando in the fourth over after making 12, before Mathews had Towhid Hridoy caught behind for 8. The in-form Hridoy had struck a superb six off his first ball but lasted only four balls more.
Mahmudullah leads recovery for Bangladesh
Jaker Ali takes over from Mahmudullah as Bangladesh marches on.
Jaker takes it deep, and almost finishes it off
Pathirana continued to be wayward in his last over, the penultimate of the innings. He conceded 15 runs including three fours, and bowled another no-ball. Jaker struck him through midwicket, fine leg and extra cover to leave Bangladesh needing 12 off the last over. It seemed then they might pull off an amazing heist, but it was not to be.
Presentations and Road Ahead.
Najmul Shanto the Losing captain said :
“It was a very good match. The boys showed a lot of character, Ali came into the team and showed a lot of intent. We started well with the ball but did not execute our plans later. Riyad’s innings was amazing along with Jaker’s, hope they contribute in the next match as well,”
Charith Asalanka the winning captain and Player of the match for his 44 runs of 21 balls said :
“I am very pleased with my performance today. Everyone contributed and did well to get the win. It is short boundaries, lot of dew around and we have to give the bowlers a chance as well. Special mention to Kusal Mendis and Sadeera, it was their partnership that laid the platform and gave me the opportunity to play freely,”
To conclude that was some breathtaking cricket on display! Dasun Shanaka in the end holds his nerve, grabbing two wickets and giving away just 8 runs in the final over to help Sri Lanka edge a nail-biter and take a 1-0 lead in this series. But this was a chase all about Jaker Ali, and before that Mahmudullah.
Sri Lanka had done exceedingly well to put on 206 batting first, courtesy hands from Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka, but with dew in full effect Sri Lanka’s bowlers – particularly Matheesha Pathirana – struggled to contain Bangladesh. Angelo Mathews grabbed early wickets in the chase, and Bangladesh looked in danger of folding cheaply at times, but Mahmudullah and Jaker had other ideas striking a pair of blistering fifties to keep Bangladesh in the hunt.
But just as they felt they had the upper hand, Shanaka and co. held their nerve to grab an exhilarating win. 409 runs with 23 sixes within 40 overs this match was excited with raining boundaries one more thing this was nail biter match viewers couldn’t ask for spicing up the 3 match series as Bangladesh though lagging 1-0 will got onto second T20I on Wednesday with some boosted confidence.