Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets in their first Twenty20 International Cricket match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh scored a fighting total of 193 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka reached the winning spot making 194 for the loss of four wickets when they had 20 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka made a good start as openers Kusal Mendis and Dnahushka Gunathilaka added together 53 runs for the opening stand before Gunathilaka (30) was stumped out by Mushfiqur Rahim off Nazmul Islam. It was debutante Nazmul’s first wicket.
Kusal Mendis and Upul Tharanga put on together 37 runs in the second wicket stand before Mendis was caught at the midwicket by Soumya Sarkar off Afif Hossain. It was debutante Afif’s first wicket.
Kusal Mendis hit 53 from 27 balls featuring eight fours and two sixes.
After dismissal of Kusal, Tharanga (4) was dismissed by Nazmul Islam when the islanders’ total was 92 for the loss of three wickets.
Niroshan Dickwella (11) was caught at the fine leg by Mohammad Saifuddin off Rubel Hossain when Sri Lanka’s score was 129 for the loss of four wickets.
Dasun Shanaka remained unbeaten with 42, while Thisara Perera remained unbeaten with 39.
Nazmul Islam captured two wickets at the cost of 25 runs.
Afif Hossain and Rubel Hossain took one wicket apiece.
Bangladesh made a formidable start as openers Zakir Hasan and Soumya Sarkar contributed together 49 runs from 24 balls in the opening stand before Zakir (10) was cleanly bowled out by Dhanushka Gunathilaka.
Opener Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim put on together 51 runs for the second wicket partnership before Soumya was trapped leg before wicket by Jeevan Mendis when Bangladesh’s total was 100 for the loss of two wickets.
Soumya hit a marvelous 51. His 32-ball innings was laced with six fours and two sixes. It was Sarkar’s maiden T20I half century.
Then debutante Afif Hossain (0) was caught by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella off Jeevan Mendis when the hosts’ score was 100 for the loss of three wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad repaired the damage contributing together 74 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Riyad was caught at the short fine leg by Akila Dananjaya off Isuru Udana when the Bangladesh’s total was 173 for the loss of four wickets.
Mushfiq remained unbeaten with 66. His 44-ball innings was ornamented with seven fours and a sixer. It was Mushfiq’s second T20I half century.
Riyad hit a captain’s knock of 43. His 31-ball knock was studded with two fours and two sixes.
Sabbir Rahman (1) was bowled out by Thisara Perera when the home side’s score was 186 for the loss of five wickets.
Jeevan Mandis bagged a couple of wickets at the cost of 21 runs, while Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera and Isuru Udana got one wicket each conceding 16, 36 and 45 runs respectively.
