RIFKA ZIYARD
COLOMBO – Mushfiqur Rahim’s top score of 84 runs together with 4 wickets haul by Mehidy Hasan derailed Sri Lanka to enable Bangladesh to record the first win in the three match one day series.
A valiant fight by Wanindu Hasaranga with a score of 74 runs was not sufficient as Sri Lanka fell short by 33 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged the player of the match.
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening game of the three-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka.
A 107-run 5th wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah saw Bangladesh put up a fighting total of 257 for 6 wickets (in 50 overs). Mushfiqur Rahman top scored with 84 runs off 87 balls. Dhanajaya de Silva picked up 3 for 45 runs from his 10 overs. Dushmantha Chameera, Danushka Gunathilaka and Lakshan Sandakan picked one wicket each. Isuru Udana was the most expensive of the Sri Lankan bowlers giving away 64 runs off his 10 overs. Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah both scored half centuries (52 and 54 runs respectively).
Mehidy Hasan took 4 wickets for 30 runs in his allocated 10 overs (including 2 maiden overs) to strangle Sri Lanka in its run chase. Wanindu Hasaranga top scored for Sri Lanka with 74 runs from only 60 balls. He took up the fight to Bangladesh with a display of good batting shots, composure with a strike rate of 123.33. Although , Danushka Gunathilaka showed promise at the start with a display of fire power (5 boundaries) the 21 runs innings was short lived. Isuru Udana also scored 21 runs off 23 balls.
Sri Lanka needing 66 runs to win in the last 10 overs with only 3 wickets in hand had hope with Wanindu Hasaranga and Isuru Udana at the wicket. However, with 47 runs required, a tired Hasaranga was caught by A Hossain. The prize wicket of Hasaranga that sealed the match for Bangladesh was taken by M.Saifuddin. Isuru Udana soon followed to the pavilion caught by M.Hasan off the bowling of M Rahman. It was a slow death for Sri Lanka thereafter and Bangladesh sealed the match with a 33-run win. The 2nd one day match will be on 25th of May 2021.
Bangladesh Playing XI: Tamim Iqbal (C), Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Kusal Perera (C&WK), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera
