Sri Lanka won the high-scoring thriller
Sri Lanka registered a three-run win over Bangladesh in the first T20I of the series at Sylhet on Monday. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bowl first.
After losing the toss, Sri Lanka made a huge total on the board and scored 206 runs for a loss of 3 wickets in their 20 overs. Opening batter Avishka Fernando was dismissed for four runs in the very first over. Later, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis made 33 runs for the second wicket. After the dismissal of Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama joined with Kusal Mendis and added 96 runs for the 3rd wicket. Kusal Mendis scored 59 runs in 36 balls. At the back stage of the inning, Skipper Charith Asalanka smashed an unbeaten 44 runs in 21 balls. Both Asalanka and Sadeera made an unbroken 73-run partnership in 33 balls for the 4th wicket. Sadeera Samarawickrama was the top scorer for Sri Lanka and scored an unbeaten 61 runs.
In reply to that, Bangladesh were off to a shaky start, and they lost 3 wickets in 5 overs for 30 runs. After that, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudullah made 38 runs for the fourth wicket. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 20 runs. Even though Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals, Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali kept Bangladesh’s hope alive and made a 47-run partnership for the 5th wicket until Mahmudullah was dismissed for 54 runs. After the dismissal of Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan joined with Jaker Ali and added a 65-run partnership. Jaker Ali fought till the end and scored 68 runs on 34 balls. Dasun Shanaka bowled the brilliant final over and depended on 12 runs successfully. Eventually, Bangladesh scored 203 runs for a loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. For Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews, Binura Fernando, and Dasun Shanaka claimed two wickets each.
