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Dambulla: Bangladesh recorded an empathic 90-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International at Dambulla on Saturday.
Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehedi Hasan dented the hosts’ hope by picking wickets at regular intervals. In his debut, Mehedi, shined with the ball claiming figures of 2-43. It was only Dinesh Chandimal, who struck his heart out for the home side, which crumbled under the pressure of chasing 325 runs.
Mortaza drew first-blood in the form of Danushka Gunathilaka, who got out for duck. Next Kusal Mendis, too failed with the bat, perishing for a 17-ball 4. Playing his first ODI, Mehedi, deceived him with a slower ball, which Kusal mistimed and handed a simple catch to the substitute fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Sri Lanka’s most experienced player, Chandimal, came out in the middle looking for runs. Upul Tharanga’s insecure innings came to an end on 19.
Mustafizur Rahman was finally called into bowl, in the 19th over that saw as many as three plays and misses. The pair steadily added 50 runs in 59 balls, with Chandimal doing most of the scoring. Chandimal meanwhile progressed to his 21st ODI half-century in 62 balls.
Chandimal became Mehedi’s second ODI victim after a slog sweep went wrong. He managed to only lob the ball into the fielders hand for a 70-ball 59.
Sachith Pathirana came out in the middle, and started hitting the bowlers to all ends much to cheer of a gloomy audience in the stands.
Pathirana along with Siriwardana managed to snitch up a 32-run stand for the sixth wicket. Siriwardana trying to emulate his six off the earlier ball, handed a skier to Shuvagata Hom at deep mid-wicket off Mustafizur.
Pathirana followed his partner soon in the dressing room, giving an easy catch at cover for 31; Mortaza’s second wicket.
Thisara Perera, who got thrashed all around the park, added some lusty blows across his name. Perera was prepared to dish out similar treatment to the visiting side with some huge sixes off his bat.
Lakshan Sandakan gave hit wicket thanks to a mix-up between himself and Perera for 3. Perera, cameo finally came to an end after the handed Mustafizur his third wicket making 55 off 35 balls. Mustafizur ended with figures of 3 for 56, while Mehedi and Mortaza grabbed two apiece.
Earlier, in the day, Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan build big partnership amidst personal milestones that saw Bangladesh end up with 324 runs on the board. While Tamim scored his eighth ODI ton, Sabbir and Shakib notched up their fourth and 33rd ODI fifties respectively.
Tamim made 127 off 142 balls while Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman added two more fifties, helping the visitors pass their previous highest score of 265-9 against Sri Lanka.
Tamim, who struck 15 fours and a six on his way to his eighth ODI century, put on 144 runs with Shakib for the fourth wicket, also Bangladesh's best ever partnership against Sri Lanka.
Shakib hit 72 off 71 balls and looked heading towards a century before he swept a Suranga Lakmal delivery wide outside off-stump to be caught by Lakshan Sandakan at short fine leg.
Tamim, who also reached a personal milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi to complete 10,000 international runs, led the batting charge throughout the innings until he fell to Lahiru Kumara in the 48th over.
Sent into bat first by Sri Lanka captain Upul Tharanga, Bangladesh lost opener Soumya Sarkar early when he edged Lakmal to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal for 10.
But Tamim and Sabbir, who made 54 off 56 balls, added 90 runs for the second wicket to bring the innings back on track on what looked like a flat batting pitch at Rangiri International Stadium.
Tharanga took a brilliant reflex catch at short cover to end Sabbir's aggressive innings which contained 10 fours, including three in one over off Thisara Perera.
Sandakan then took a catch off his own bowling to remove Mushfiqur Rahim for one but Shakib joined Tamim to continue Bangladesh's domination.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh - 324 for 5 (Tamim 127, Shakib 72, Sabbir 54; Lakmal 2-45)
Sri Lanka - 234 (Chandimal 59, Perera 55, Rahman 3-56, Mortaza 2-35, Mehedi Hasan 2-43)
Result - Bangladesh won by 90 runs.
