Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 87 while Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah struck half-centuries which propelled Bangladesh to 257/6 after opting to bat first. In reply, Sri Lanka were reeling at 102/6 before Wanindu Hasaranga played a magnificent knock, scoring 74, but he couldn’t take Sri Lanka over the line as they fell 33 runs short.
It was a clinical performance from Bangladesh as they took a 1-0 lead in this three-match series against Sri Lanka. There were three half-centuries from the Bangladesh top six, including an 80+ which took the hosts to a fighting total before a fantastic effort from the bowlers helped them earn a 33-run win.
Sri Lanka were decent with the ball but barring Wanindu Hasaranga, none of them stepped up with the bat. There were a few starts, but no one could put the foot down and make it big. A little more contribution from the top-order may have well changed the complexion of the game, especially with the way Hasaranga batted towards the end.
After opting to bat first, Bangladesh lost Liton Das in the second over of the innings. Das’ poor run continued as he was out for a three-ball duck. The Sri Lankan bowlers built on this early breakthrough and put pressure on Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. The experienced duo couldn’t really force the pace in the powerplay as they could muster just 40 runs in the first 10 overs.
Soon after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Danushka Gunathilaka got the big breakthrough as he reaped the rewards of the pressure built in the powerplay. Shakib holed out at long-on. Mushfiqur joined Tamim, and the duo steadied the ship, sharing a 55-run stand.
Tamim was quite subdued and got to fifty in 66 deliveries and was dismissed soon after. Dhananjaya de Silva pinned Tamim plumb in front before scalping Mohammad Mithun off the very next delivery to leave Bangladesh reeling at 99/4.
Mahmudullah’s arrival and his partnership with Rahim eased the nerves. Rahim was excellent against the spinners as he used his feet and also swept hard to attack them and keep the scorecard ticking. On the other hand, Mahmudullah played second fiddle and complemented Rahim really well as the duo added 109 runs for the fifth wicket.
Their partnership put Bangladesh back on track. However, Rahim fell 16 runs short of his hundred as he fell trying to up the ante. Mahmudullah reached his half-century off 72 balls as he took 22 deliveries to go from 42 to 50, which came either side of Rahim’s dismissal. He was cleaned up by de Silva, who eventually finished with figures of 10-0-45-3.
Afif Hossain’s unbeaten 27 off 22 and a couple of lusty blows from Mohammad Saifuddin lifted Bangladesh to 257. Most of the Sri Lankan bowlers were disciplined and it was a pretty decent effort from them.
Chasing just over five runs an over, Danushka Gunathilaka got off to a fluent start as he struck five boundaries in the first five overs before Mehidy Hasan had him caught and bowled. Pathum Nissanka didn’t last long either as he pulled one straight to mid-wicket to give Mustafizur his first wicket.
Skipper Kusal Perera didn’t look at his best and scratched around for his 30, while Kusal Mendis made 24. The duo put on 41 runs for the third wicket, and just when they looked good, Mehidy, alongside Shakib just ran through the Sri Lankan middle-order.
It was Shakib who got the breakthrough as he deceived Mendis in the flight and had him caught at point. Mehidy came in and wreaked havoc at the other end. He dismissed the well-set Perera, before picking up the wickets of Dhananjaya de Silva and Ashen Bandara in a fine middle overs spell. The off-spinner bowled out in the 30th over, finishing with figures of 10-2-30-4, which at one point read 8.3-2-16-4.
It was Wanindu Hasaranga who spoilt his figures towards the end and revived the hopes of Sri Lanka. The leg-spinning all-rounder walked in and went out on the attack straightaway. He clubbed the Sri Lankan spinners all over the park before putting pressure on the pacers. He put on a stand of 47 with Dasun Shanaka for the seventh wicket in which the latter contributed just 14.
Hasaranga raced away to fifty off just 31 balls and put the pressure right back on Bangladesh. Udana batted well alongside him, and the pair accumulated 62 runs for the eighth wicket. However, Saifuddin broke Sri Lanka’s hopes as he got the prized scalp of Hasaranga for 74. The leg-spinning all-rounder pulled one straight to deep square-leg, and Mustafizur got Udana the very next delivery to kill the chase.
Sri Lanka slumped to their fourth successive defeat in ODI cricket this year and continued to remain at the bottom of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League with -2 points. Bangladesh rose to No. 4 as they have 40 points in the bag.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh 257/6 (Mushfiqur 84, Mahmudullah 54, Tamim 52, Dhananjaya de Silva 3/45, Chameera 1/39) beat Sri Lanka 224 all out (Hasaranga 74, Kusal Perera 30, Mehidy Hasan 4/30, Mustafizur 3/34) by 33 runs
