Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs in their first One Day International (ODI) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh piled up a fighting total of 257 for the loss of six wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then bowled out Sri Lanka for 224 off 48.1 overs.
Bangladesh had a shaky start when opener Liton Das (o) was caught at the first slip by Dhananjaya de Silva off Dushmantha Cahmeera and Bangladesh’s score was five for the loss of one wicket.
One-down Shakib Al Hasan failed to show satisfactory performance as he (15) was caught at the long-on by Pathum Nissanka off Danushka Gunathilaka when the hosts’ total was 43 for the loss of two wickets.
After Shakib’s dismissal, opener Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim added together 56 runs for the third wicket partnership before Tamim Iqbal was trapped leg before wicket by Dhanajaya de Silva when the home side’s score was 99 for the loss of three wickets.
Tamim played a captain’s knock 52. He hit six fours and a sixer in his 70-ball innings. It was his 51st half-century.
Third-down Mohammad Mithun (0) was trapped leg before wicket by Dhananjaya de Silva when Bangladesh’s total was 99.
After Mithun’s removal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad salvaged their team from debacle, contributing together 109 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at the short third man by Isuru Udana off Lakshan Sandakan when Bangladesh’s score was 208 for the loss of five wickets.
Mushfiq hit the day’s highest 84. His 87-ball innings saw four fours and a six. It was his 40th ODI half century. Mushfiq was adjudged the Man of the Match of for his superb innings.
After Mushfiq’s dismissal, Riyad and Afif Hossain put on together 28 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Riyad was cleanly bowled out by Dhanajaya de Silva when Bangladesh’s total was 230 for the loss of six wickets.
Riyad notched up 54 from 76 balls. He hit two fours and a six. It was Riyad’s 24th ODI half-century.
After Riyad’s departure, Afif Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin put on together 27 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership before Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Afif remained unbeaten with 27, while Saifuddin remained unbeaten with 13.
Dhananjaya de Silva captured three wickets at the cost of 45 runs.
Besides, Dushmantha Chameera, Gunathilaka and Sandakan took one wicket apiece.
Later, sixth-down Wanindu Hasaranga, opener Kusal Perera and second-down Kusal Mendis fought against the tight and controlled bowling attack of Bangladesh bowlers.
Hasaranga hit a terrific 74 from 60 balls. His 77-minute knock had five sixes and three fours.
Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis added 30 and 24 runs respectively to the Islanders’ total.
Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and ‘Cutter Boy’ Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin played the key role in demolishing Lanka innings.
Miraz claimed four wickets in the space of 30 runs, while Mustafizur Rahman grabbed three wickets at the cost of 34 runs and Saifuddin bagged two wickets for 49 runs.
Besides, Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket conceding 44 runs.
