1st T20I, Sylhet, March 04, 2024, 05:30 PM
Sri Lanka
206/3(20.0ov)
Bangladesh
203/8(20.0ov)
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 3 runs
That is it from this game! An entertaining start to the series. Bangladesh though will look to bounce back in the second game as these two meet again on the 6th of this month at 5.30 pm IST (12 pm GMT) Do join us for the build up as well. Cheers!
Charith Asalanka wins the Player of the Match award. He says he is very pleased with his performance. He feels everybody contributed and he is pleased. Adds there was a lot of dew and it wasn’t easy for the bowlers. Ends by saying Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis did really well.
Najmul Hossain Shanto says it was a good match, the boys showed a lot of character, Jaker Ali in particular played really well. Adds they didn't execute the plans in the death overs. Reckons Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali played well but hopes to contribute in the next match as well.
...Presentation...
Sri Lanka wouldn't have thought that this match will go down to the wire with more than 200 runs on the board. They bowled well in the start but a couple of bowlers really let them off. Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando and Dasun Shanaka all went for runs and looked nervy too but a wonderful last over from Shanaka saw them get over the line. Still, they wouldn't be much happier as they could have done a lot better after the start they got. Earlier, some incredible knocks from Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka got them over 200. It turned out to be just enough for the visitors.
Sri Lanka have done it! Pin-drop silence in the stadium and even in the Bangladeshi camp. WOW! What a match to witness. These two teams always put on a show and today was once from the top drawer as well. You feel for Bangladesh though. It was just about two players for them. First, they lost three inside the Powerplay but Mahmudullah came with intent and played some breathtaking strokes. He single-handedly kept the fight alive. Once he fell, many thought it was all over but then Jaker Ali came in to find light in a dark tunnel. He right till the last over kept the hopes alive. Bangladesh needed 12 off 6 with the momentum their side but it was Ali's wicket that put all things to an end.
In over# 20
1
1lb
4
0W
1
1wd
0W
Dasun Shanaka 36/2(3)
19.6
1
Just the one! IT IS SRI LANKA WHO WIN! This is full and outside off. Ahmed looks to swing but gets an inside edge onto the pads. This rolls on the off side for one.
19.5
1lb
An appeal but not given! Review is taken but that is a waste of a review. NOT OUT! That is missing off. A poor review. More in desperation we feel. Islam moves right outside off. Shanaka bowls it outside off. He swings but misses. It hits the pad and rolls on the off side. A leg bye taken. Four to tie, five to win for Bangla. Another other than that, it is Lanka.
19.4
4
FOUR! Islam is not going down without a fight. 6 needed in 2 now. Fuller and outside off. This is slammed through covers and the ball races away.
Shoriful Islam walks to the middle. 10 runs needed in 3 balls.
19.3
W
OUT! TAKEN! Straight to the fielder! Pin-drop silence here in the stadium. Heart break for Ali. What a knock by him, he held the key for his side to get over the line. Shanaka though gets him and Lanka are ecstatic. Goes full and outside off. Ali looks to go over long off but since this is quite full, he does not get the elevation and holes out to the fielder there.
19.2
1
A yorker, can do a lot with this. This is jammed down to long off for one.
19.2
1wd
WIDE! 11 needed in 5! Well outside off. Left alone.
Taskin Ahmed is the new man in. He just needs to give the strike to Jaker Ali!
19.1
W
OUT! A wicket to begin the last over and the good thing is for Sri Lanka that Jaker will be off strike. Did Rishad need to go big? The ball though was there to be hit. Can't blame him. A low full toss outside off. Rishad lifts it but it goes off the bottom. The fielder at mid off runs to his left and takes it with a dive.
Dasun Shanaka to bowl the final over. 12 runs needed in 6 balls. Bangladesh are the favourites at this point.
In over# 19
4
0
0
4
2
5nb
0
Matheesha Pathirana 56/1(4)
18.6
4
FOUR! Up and over! Jaker says, he doesn't want the single to keep strike, he will find the fence. Massive over and now 12 is needed from 6. Short and outside off, this is slapped over cover and this races away to the fence.