Sri Lanka stun Bangladesh to go 1-0 up

A monumental collapse for Bangladesh, triggered by the Sri Lankan spinners, saw the hosts take an early lead in the series with a comfortable 77-run win in the first ODI at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (July 2). A measured century from skipper Charith Asalanka and a useful 45 from Kusal Mendis helped Sri Lanka finish with a competitive 244. Bangladesh, in reply, got off to a good start but lost their way completely from the 17th over of the chase. Jaker Ali scored a valiant 51 but his knock went in vain as Bangladesh folded for 167.

It wasn't a great start from Sri Lanka after they opted to bat as they slipped to 29 for 3 inside eight overs. The in-form Pathum Nissanka fell for a duck, attempting a cut off Tanzim Hasan Sakib only to get an edge to the 'keeper. Nishan Madushka chopped on a Taskin Ahmed delivery and the bowler also had Kamindu Mendis spooning a catch to mid-off, dismissing him for nought. Meanwhile, Kusal was playing a fluent innings at the other end, dealing in boundaries, including two fours and a six off Tanzim in the sixth over. Asalanka got going with some cracking shots, including a six over cover off Taskin and a slog-sweep for a maximum off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, helping Sri Lanka to the 50-run mark at the end of the 10th over.

Kusal and Asalanka put on a 60-run stand, which came to an end in the 19th over when the former was trapped in front by debutant left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, falling five short of a half-century. Asalanka continued positively, striking a six off Taskin en route to a 61-ball fifty, with Janith Liyanage supporting him well from the other end as they raised a fifty-run stand to give Sri Lanka a steady platform. But Bangladesh again hit back to end a promising partnership, with Najmul Hossain Shanto getting Liyanage caught at long-on. Shanto, however, was hit for a six by Asalanka and a four by Milan Rathnayake in his next over. The new playing conditions also kicked in, with Bangladesh having to choose one of the two balls after over no. 34.

Rathnayake was involved in a useful 39-run stand with Asalanka before being bowled by Tanzim for 22. Wanindu Hasaranga then struck a brisk 22, with three fours, but his stay was cut short by Taskin, who also picked up the wicket of Maheesh Theekshana to leave Sri Lanka at 228 for 8 in the 46th over. Asalanka went on to bring up his fifth ODI hundred but fell in the final over, as Tanzim finished with three wickets to keep Sri Lanka below 250.

Parvez Hossain Emon, the other debutant in the Bangladesh XI, began confidently along with Tanzid Hasan, with the openers scoring six fours between them in the first five overs. But an attempted slog went awry for Emon, who fell to Asitha Fernando for 13. Tanzid then struck a four and a six off Rathnayake while Shanto got going with two fours off Fernando. Both scored at a steady rate, with Tanzid bringing up a 51-ball fifty, as they took their partnership past 70 before Bangladesh suffered a collapse.

It started with the run-out of Shanto, who went for a second run but found himself short of the crease despite a dive. Hasaranga then struck twice in the 18th over to leave Bangladesh in more trouble. Litton Das was trapped in front for a duck while the well-set Tanzid was undone by a stunning catch from Liyanage, who flew to his right from mid-off and held on to the ball with both hands. There was more to come as Towhid Hridoy was bowled by Kamindu and new skipper Mehidy followed soon after as he was out lbw to Hasaranga. The ambidextrous bowler Kamindu then pocketed the wickets of Tanzim and Taskin in the same over. Bangladesh, who were going strong at 100 for 1, lost seven wickets for five runs as they slipped to 105 for 8.

Tanvir put away a loose ball from Kamindu while Jaker also struck a four off the same bowler as the ninth wicket pair added 20 runs, spending close to eight overs at the crease. Theekshana, however, ended the stand having Tanvir caught behind. Jaker then hit sixes off Asalanka and Theekshana and also struck a four and a six off Fernando as he attempted a fightback. He also did well to farm most of the strike, while Mustafizur hung around at the other end. Boundaries off Hasaranga and Theekshana helped Jaker bring up a 59-ball fifty as he kept Bangladesh afloat.

Adding to Sri Lanka's frustrations, they were handed a five-run penalty for starting an over late, for the third time after two prior warnings. But that didn't matter much eventually as Hasaranga ended Jaker's fine innings by trapping him in front, closing out the game in the 36th over.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 244 in 49.2 overs (Charith Asalanka 106, Kusal Mendis 45; Taskin Ahmed 4-47, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3-46) beat Bangladesh 167 in 35.5 overs (Tanzid Hasan 62, Jaker Ali 51; Wanindu Hasaranga 4-10, Kamindu Mendis 3-19) by 77 runs.