Bangladesh not only celebrated a T20I series win over Sri Lanka on Wednesday, July 16, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, but they celebrated it for the first time in history. Led by Litton Das, the visitors defeated the hosts by eight wickets in the third and final match to seal their maiden T20I series victory against Sri Lanka.
It took a lot -- Tanzid Hasan Tamim's career-best half-century, Mehidy Hasan's exceptional spell of 4 for 11, Litton Das' consistency, and perhaps a bit of luck at the toss -- for Bangladesh to clinch a 2-1 T20I series win over Sri Lanka. The victory helped them avoid a complete whitewash on the tour, after defeats in both the Test and ODI series.
Ironically, luck was on Bangladesh’s side -- because they lost the toss. Sri Lanka chose to bat first, a decision Charith Asalanka would soon regret as the opener Kusal Mendis was dismissed for just 6 runs by Shoriful Islam, and by the fifth over, the hosts had collapsed to 34/3.
Sri Lanka scored a mediocre 132-7 in their 20 overs after captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Bangladesh replied with 133-2 with 21 deliveries to spare.
Bangladesh lost their first wicket in the first ball of their innings when Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara trapped Parvez Hossain Emon lbw.
Tamim and captain Litton Das held the Bangladesh innings together sharing a 74-run partnership for the second wicket in just 50 deliveries. Das made 32 before being caught by Kusal Perera off spin bowler Kamindu Mendis.
Tamim and Towhid Hridoy joined in an unbroken 59-run stand and saw their team through to victory.
Tamim finished with 73 not out to beat his previous best Twenty20 international score of 67 made against Zimbabwe last year. He hit six sixes and a boundary during his 47-ball innings.
Hridoy remained unbeaten on 27.
Earlier, Bangladesh off spin bowler Mehedi Hasan took a career best 4-11.
Sri Lanka started its innings aggressively scoring 14 runs in the first over. However, Bangladesh fast bowler Shoriful Islam dismissed in-form batter Kusal Mendis (6) in the last ball of the over having him caught at deep-square-leg by Hridoy.
Kusal Perera was out in the first ball edging Mehedi Hasan to Tamim at slip.
Dinesh Chandimal also failed, being dismissed for 4 runs trying an aggressive shot against Mehedi to be caught by Jaker Ali.
Asalanka (3) was stuck on the crease and played the wrong line against Mehedi and was bowled.
Mehedi caught Pathum Nissanka, the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 46 runs, off his own bowling. He bettered his previous best bowling figures of 4-13 against the West Indies.
Kamindu Mendis attempted to increase Sri Lanka's scoring rate with 21 runs in 15 deliveries while Dasun Shanaka remained not out on 35 off 25 deliveries. He hit 21 runs out of 22 scored by Sri Lanka in their last over.
Live Commentary:
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Playing XIs:
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara
