Bangladesh clinch first T20I series triumph over Sri Lanka

A career-best 4 for 11 from Mahedi Hasan and a fine 73* off 47 balls by Tanzid Hasan Tamim - also his highest T20I score - powered Bangladesh to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka, as they cruised to an eight-wicket victory in the decider at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (July 16).

Mahedi's impactful spell helped restrict the hosts to 132 for 7, with Pathum Nissanka (46) the only top-five batter to reach double digits. Tanzid then took charge of the chase with a six-laden knock (6 sixes and 1 four), stitching half-century stands with Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy, as Bangladesh wrapped up the win in 16.3 overs to seal their first-ever T20I series triumph over Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh's chase did not start on a bright note as Parvez Hossain Emon was trapped in front by Nuwan Thushara for a first-ball duck. Litton was given out lbw off Binura Fernando but he used the DRS successfully to overturn the decision. He then put on a good stand with Tanzid to put Bangladesh in control. Bangladesh reached 47 for 1 at the end of the sixth over with Litton and Tanzid striking a six apiece. The six-hitting continued beyond the PowerPlay with Tanzid clearing the fence twice off Charith Asalanka and once off Jeffrey Vandersay.

The partnership worth 74 came to an end in the ninth over when a slogsweep brought about Litton's downfall as he was dismissed by Kamindu Mendis for 32. But that didn't stop Tanzid as he smashed a Vandersay delivery over the leg side for a six and then got an edge for a four as he raced to a 27-ball fifty, powering Bangladesh to 89 for 2 at the halfway stage of their innings. Bangladesh crossed 100 in the 12th over when Maheesh Theekshana put down the catch of Tanzid off Kamindu, who was also hit for a six in the same over. Towhid was happy playing second fiddle, rotating the strike, and then unleashed by striking a four off Thushara and a maximum off Theekshana before scoring the winning run.

Earlier, opting to bat, Sri Lanka suffered early setbacks as Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera fell inside the first two overs. Soon after scoring a boundary, Mendis flicked a Shoriful Islam delivery straight to deep backward square while Perera fell for a golden duck, edging Mahedi to slip. Nissanka was put down off Shoriful but Sri Lanka suffered another blow as Dinesh Chandimal got a top edge off Mahedi in the fifth over, leaving Sri Lanka at 34 for 3. Nissanka kept the scoreboard moving but was losing partners at the other end as Mahedi bagged his third by having Charith Asalanka castled for 3.

Mahedi capped off an excellent bowling performance with the wicket of as well-set Nissanka, bagging a caught and bowled and finishing with a wicket maiden as Sri Lanka slipped to 66 for 5. Kamindu hit a six and a four off Tanzim Hasan Sakib but fell soon after to Shamim Hossain. By the time the 17th over was completed, Sri Lanka had barely crossed 100 and had lost their seventh wicket by then, with Mustafizur Rahman accounting for Vandersay. At the end of the 19th, they had only 110. That they managed to cross 130 was thanks to Dasun Shanaka, who hit two sixes and as many fours in a 22-run over off Shoriful to help Sri Lanka post a respectable total.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 132/7 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 46, Dasun Shanaka 35*; Mahedi Hasan 4-11) lost to Bangladesh 133/2 in 16.3 overs (Tanzid Hasan Tamim 73*, Litton Das 32; Kamindu Mendis 1-21) by 8 wickets.