Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh Highlights, 1st ODI: Hasaranga Four-fer Help SL Beat BAN By 77 Runs

Here are the highlights of the 1st Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh ODI match in the first of a three-match One-Day International series to be played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.

Bangladesh threw away a position of strength in spectacular fashion, collapsing from 100 for 1 to 105 for 8 to hand Sri Lanka a dominant win of 777 runs in what should have been a far closer contest. At one stage, with Najmul Shanto set and the required rate well under control, Bangladesh looked to be cruising.

But one moment of hesitation—Shanto’s ill-judged call for a second run—turned the tide. The skipper, desperate to keep the scoreboard ticking, was run out by mere inches after a direct hit, leaving him fuming and the door ajar for Sri Lanka.

From that point, it was a procession. Enter Wanindu Hasaranga, who wreaked havoc immediately. He removed key batters in a searing seven-ball burst that yielded three wickets. The leg-spinner was virtually unplayable, tying down the batters with relentless accuracy as he racked up 40 dot balls in his 7.5 overs. Kamindu Mendis chipped in as well, as Sri Lanka’s spinners tightened the noose.

Earlier, it was Charith Asalanka (106) who laid the platform for the win. He led with the bat, guiding Sri Lanka to a defendable total with a composed knock, before his smart bowling changes after the drinks break shifted the momentum decisively in his side’s favour.

Bangladesh, who had been in full control, lost their way completely after that break, losing seven wickets for just five runs in one of the most dramatic collapses in recent memory.

Jaker Ali fought hard with a valiant fifty and was supported briefly by Tanvir Islam and Mustafizur Rahman, who tried to delay the inevitable. But the target was well out of reach as Sri Lanka closed out the match with ease.

As for Bangladesh, the visitors are on a six-match losing streak in the 50-over format and are yet to win an ODI match since its 68-run win over Afghanistan in Sharjah in November last year.