Narrow win for Lanka

Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka by just three runs in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Sent into bat first, Sri Lanka piled up a mammoth total of 206 for the loss of three wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and restricted the Tigers to 203 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Bangladesh lost their early three wickets for 30 runs.

One-down Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudullah Riyad contributed together 38 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Shanto (20) was caught at the square leg by Angelo Mathews off Matheesha Pathirana when the hosts’ total was 68 for the loss of four wickets.

After Shanto’s dismissal, third-down Mahmudullah Riyad and fourth-down Jaker Ali repaired the damage adding together 47 runs in the five-wicket stand before Riyad was caught at the long-on by Avishka Fernando off Maheesh Theekshana when the home side’s score was 115 for the loss of five wickets.

Riyad notched up a windy 54. His 31-ball knock was studded with four sixes and two fours.

After Riyad’s departure, Jaker Ali and fifth-down Mahedi Hasan contributed together 65 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Mahedi Hasan (16) was caught at the short fine leg by Angelo Mathews off Avishka Fernando when the Tigers’ total was 180 for the loss of six wickets.

Jaker Ali clubbed a hurricane 68. His 34-ball knock was laved with six sixes and fours.

Angelo Mathews, Binura Fernando and Dasun Shanaka bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had a poor start as opener Avishka Fernando (4) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off Shoriful Islam when the tourists’ total was just four.

After Fernando’s dismissal, opener Kusal Mendis and one-down Kamindu Mendis put on together 33 runs for the second wicket partnership before Kamindu Mendis (19) was caught at the midwicket by Soumya Sarkar off Taskin Ahmed when the islanders’ score was 37 for the loss of two wickets.

After Kamindu’s departure, Kusal Mendis and second-down Sadeera Samarawickrama rescued their team from danger adding together 96 runs for the third wicket partnership before Kusal Mendis was caught at the long-off by Mahmudullah Riyad off Rishad Hossain when Sri Lanka’s total was 133 for the loss of three wickets.

Kusal Mendis hammered a windy 59. His 36-ball innings was laced with three sixes and six fours.

After Kusal’s dismissal, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka contributed together 73 runs in the unbroken fourth wicket stand before Sri Lanka’s innings came to an end.

Sadeera remained unbeaten with 61. He cracked eight fours and a sixer in his 48-ball knock.

Asalanka hit a captain’s knock of 44 (not out). His 21-ball innings was belted with six sixes.

Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam got one wicket each conceding 32, 40 and 47 runs respectively.