First T20I
Sri Lanka overcame Mahmudullah’s and Jaker’s fifties to clinch the thrilling victory.
Sri Lanka scored 206/3 in 20 overs where as Bangladesh scored 203/8 in 20 overs, so finally Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 3 runs
In a gripping showdown in Sylhet, Sri Lanka narrowly defeated Bangladesh by three runs in the first T20I, seizing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Charith Asalanka’s stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match title for his unbeaten 44 off 21 deliveries, which propelled the visitors to a formidable total.
Despite the fierce assault by Jaker Ali, who scored 68 runs off 34 balls, Sri Lanka managed to defend their score in challenging dewy conditions.
SL worked past a modest start to reach a commanding 206/3.
After being sent in to bat, Sri Lanka suffered early setbacks with the dismissals of Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis within the PowerPlay, leaving them at 45/2.
However, Kusal Mendis (59 off 36) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (61 off 48) swiftly consolidated, forging a vital 96-run partnership for the third wicket.
Their aggressive batting set the team on a formidable trajectory.
Following Mendis’ departure, Asalanka entered the fray and unleashed a barrage of sixes, propelling Sri Lanka beyond the 200-run mark with a whirlwind knock.
Bangladesh conceded a significant number of runs towards the end of the innings.
A total of 64 runs were amassed in the final four overs, a crucial factor that ultimately determined the outcome of the match.
Mustafizur Rahman delivered two of those overs but appeared to struggle for effective strategies against the Sri Lankan batsmen, especially given the flat pitch and short boundaries.
The last over of the innings, once again bowled by Mustafizur, proved particularly costly, conceding 24 runs.
The run-chase got off to a shaky start.
Angelo Mathews struck early in the PowerPlay, dismissing Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy, as Bangladesh stumbled, losing three wickets within the initial six overs.
However, Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudullah (54 off 31) provided some stability with a 38-run partnership before Shanto fell to a well-executed bounce from Matheesha Pathirana.
The Mahmudullah-Jaker partnership, along with the events of the final over, were pivotal moments in the match.
Ali, who displayed his aggression with 4 boundaries and 6 sixes in his innings, initially played a supporting role while Mahmudullah anchored the crease during their 47-run partnership.
However, once Mahmudullah departed, Ali took charge, launching an onslaught of sixes against bowlers like Theekshana and Shanaka.
This aggressive batting reduced the required runs to a manageable 56 off 24 balls and eventually just 12 off the last over.
Despite the pressure, Shanaka, who had been chosen to bowl over Mathews, maintained his composure and executed a brilliant final over with five fielders within the ring.
Bangladesh remained in contention until the final delivery, needing a six to secure victory, but Taskin fell short in delivering the decisive blow.
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