In a nail-biting encounter in Sylhet, Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling victory against Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series on Monday.
Sri Lanka batted first and posted a challenging total of 206 runs for the loss of 3 wickets after being put into bat by Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka faced an early setback as Avishka Fernando departed early in the innings. However, Kausal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama rose to the occasion, each scoring a brilliant fifty to propel their team forward. Mendis notched up 59 runs off just 36 balls, while Samarawickrama contributed a valuable 61 off 48 deliveries. The duo's partnership laid a solid foundation for Sri Lanka's imposing total.
Adding to the onslaught was Charith Asalanka, the captain of Sri Lanka, who showcased his batting prowess with a blazing 44 runs off 21 balls. Their combined efforts propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding score, setting the stage for an enthralling second innings.
In response, Bangladesh began their chase but suffered an early blow with the dismissal of Litton Das. However, Mahmudullah Riyad and debutant Jaker Ali stitched together a promising partnership, instilling hope in the home crowd. Mahmudullah, playing a great innings in a T20I after a long gap, notched up a well-deserved fifty, while Jaker nearly took the team over the line.
Despite their efforts, Bangladesh fell agonizingly short of the target, finishing their innings just three runs shy of victory. Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Angelo Mathews, Binura Fernando, and Dasun Shanaka, held their nerve in the crucial moments to secure the narrow win.
With this victory, Sri Lanka takes the lead in the three-match series, leading 1-0. The stage is now set for the next thrilling encounters, scheduled to take place on March 6 and 9 respectively at the Sylhet International Stadium
MSH
