Dhaka, Feb 18 (Just News): Sri Lanka used eight bowlers and seven of them got at least a wicket each with Thisara Perera surprisingly the only one left with a zero in the wicket column. The fact that so many Lankan bowlers got at least a wicket showed what Tigers are going through at the moment. Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad top-scored with a team-high 41 off 31 deliveries before he ran himself out in the 15th over.
Lankans bowled to a plan to maintain good line and length and the batsmen did the rest for them.
Bangladesh lost three wickets early on in their innings, losing Soumya Sakar, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mithun Ali inside three overs.
Soumya reached out to a Akila Dananjaya delivery way outside the off-stump and skied it to man at point in the second over. Mushfiqur Rahim opened his account with a slashed six over third-man region off Shehan Mahdushanka in the third over, but he fell in the next ball, holed out at mid-wicket trying to pull away the paceman.
Madushanka then scalped Mithun on the last ball of the third over as the batsman managed a leading edge, trying to flick one towards square-leg and was holed out at mid-wicket.
Tamim Iqbal, who has played a few good shots is unbeaten on 22 from 17 deliveries as Bangladesh reached 40 for three after six overs.
Dasun Shanaka and Upul Tharanga ensure that Sri Lanka finished with a flurry as they put on 45 off just 18 deliveries. Tharanga fell in the final over, out for 25 while Shanaka remained unbeaten on a 11-ball 30 as Sri Lanka reached 210 from their 20 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Earlier, Kusal Mendis played a magnificent knock of 70 from 42 deliveries with six fours before he fell to Mustafizur Rahman as Mahedi took an excellent catch at wide long-on.
Soumya Sarkar made the first breakthrough for Bangladesh after a 98- run opening stand between Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunalthilaka as he removed the latter after scoring 42 off 37 balls.
The first Powerplay brought 63 runs but the next six overs produced only 45 runs and Lankans promoted hard-hitting Thisara Perera up the order to accelerate the run scoring. Thisara was looking increasingly dangerous and in the 14th over he hit Kusal Perera for two fours and a six before Rahi removed him in the 16th over, holed out at long on.
Sri Lanka have started their innings aggressively from the get go and piled up 63 runs in the first powerplay.
Debutant Rahi bowled the first over of the innings and showed promise as he got some swing right from the get go. However, he strayed in line and Mendis picked up two boundaries in the first over. Danushka Gunathilaka hit some beautiful Sixes with one off Mahedi in the third over and the other off Nazmul Islam in the fourth over.
Mendis also showed aggression hitting Nazmul for six in the fourth over and then Mahedi in the sixth over as Sri Lanka are in a strong position without the loss of a wicket after six overs.
(Justnews/ys/2350)
