Wanindu Hasaranga’s impressive knock against the grain had revived Lankan hopes of seizing the first ODI against Bangladesh but a tired shot in the 44th over led to his departure as Sri Lankan chase fell away. The visitors were bowled out for 224 runs, falling 33 runs short of the target.
The Lankan middle-order had been guilty of throwing wickets at a crucial stage of the game as Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz dictated terms in the middle overs. Hasaranga came in at the fall of the sixth wicket with the score on 102 in the 28th over. He proceeded to take on Mehedi and strike two fours and a six in the last two overs of spinner’s spell as Mehedi’s impressive figures were ruined slightly. Miraz finished with figures of 30 runs for four wickets in 10 overs. Hasaranga kept going and after Dasun Shanaka departed for 14, he strung together 62-run partnership with Isuru Udana.
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The Sri Lankan duo ran their singles and the doubles hard but the tremendous temperatures throughout the day started to show it’s effects. With 47 needed of 37, he was holed out to deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Mohammad Saifuddin after hammering a 60-ball 74, laced with three fours and five sixes.
The Tigers were relieved when Mustafizur Rahman, who went off the field following an ankle injury, came back into the field. Fizz proceeded to get the last two wickets to finish with three for 34 as Bangladesh won by 33 runs. Shakib bagged one wicket for 44 runs while Saifuddin finished with 49 runs in 10 overs for two wickets.
SL reel from Shakib, Miraz strikes
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan got back in amongst the wickets since his return to the side as he picked up the dangerous Kusal Mendis before Mehedi Hasan Miraz sent back Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva in consecutive overs as Sri Lanka struggled in chase of 258. The Lankans were 98 for five in 24 overs.
Shakib was rewarded for his loop and guile as he deceived Mendis in flight and the batsmen played it in the air towards point where Mehedi dove forward to take the catch.
Sri Lanka were building resistance with Kusal Perera’s 30 before he became Miraz’s second victim as the left-hander robbed back to cut but the ball skidded in with the angle and castled him. Dhanajaya moved out of the line of the delivery to work it to the onside but was also castled by Mehedi as he picked up three wickets for 14 runs in seven overs.
Fizz, Miraz strikes set Sri Lanka back after positive start
Sri Lanka started the chase of 258 brightly with opener Danushka Gunathilaka in particular going after Taskin Ahmed. However, Mehedi Hasan Miraz picked up the opener in the fifth over before Mustafizur Rahman bagged Pathum Nissaka in the eighth over.
Left-handed opener Gunathilaka had raced to 21 off 18 deliveries, laced with five fours as he took the game to the Tigers even as Miraz was bowling economically from the other end. A regulation delivery in the fifth over from Miraz saw Gunathilaka look to thump it straight past the bowler but only managing to play get caught and bowled by the bowler.
Fizz then came into the attack and Nissaka, who was looking positive on eight, fell trying to force a pull through mid-wicket but playing it straight to Afif Hossain. After 11 overs Sri Lanka are 52 for 2 with Kusal Mendis going strong on a 24-ball 17. Earlier fifties from Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad saw Bangladesh 257 for six in 50 overs.
