Bangladesh tasted a nail-biting defeat to Sri Lanka when the Tigers lost to the Lions by just two runs in their first Twenty20 International match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday.Chasing Sri Lanka’s massive 168 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, Bangladesh were restricted to 166 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman made a solid foundation contributing together 52 runs in the opening stand before Shamsur Rahman was caught and bowled by Ajantha Mendis. Later, Anamul Haque and Shakib Al Hasan put on together 43 runs for the third wicket partnership before Shakib Al Hasan was cleanly bowled out by Nuwan Kulasekara when the team’s total was 107 for the loss of three wickets.Anamul Haque shone with the willow making 58 from 45 balls hitting seven fours. At one stage Bangladesh needed three runs from the last delivery of the 20th over. But Anamul’s shot went on the top and bowler Thisara Perera did not do any mistake to catch the ball. Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Shamsur Rahman contributed 30, 26 and 22 runs respectively to the Bangladesh total.Nuwan Kulasekara and Thishara Perera captured two wickets each instead of 29 and 42 runs respectively.Besides, Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga took one wicket each. Earlier, Sri Lanka made a poor start losing their first wicket for just seven runs. Then, Kaushal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal rescued their team from early debacle adding together 54 runs in the second wicket stand before Chandimal was caught at the long on by Farhad Reza off Shakib Al Hasan when Sri Lanka’s total was 61 for the loss of two wickets. Later, Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara built another notable partnership. They put on together 44 runs in the seventh wicket stand before Kulasekara was caught at the deep square leg by Shamsur Rahman off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when the islanders score was 164 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Opener Kaushal Perera was the highest scorer of the visitors. He notched up 64. He hit seven fours and a sixer in his 44-ball knock before he was caught at the mid wicket by Anamul Haque off Arafat Sunny when the tourists total was 116 for the loss of five wickets. Kulasekara made 31 from 21 balls featuring two over boundaries and one over boundaries. Thisara Perera remained unbeaten with 19 from 16 balls. Arafat Sunny, Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged a pair of wickets each at the cost of 17, 27 and 43 runs respectively.
