Charith Asalanka rose in a typically back to the wall herculean Captain Marvel innings of 106 off 123 balls studded with 4 sixes and 6 boundaies in lifting Sri Lanka from the dumps of 3 for 29 when the top three of Pathum Nissanka 0, Nishan Madushka 6 and Kamindu Mendis 0 perished, to a dramatic 67-run win over Bangladesh wholost their way from 100 for 1 in the opener of the 3-Match ODI series last night at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
The 28-year old left-hander rode the rim of peril in a now all familiar role of digging Sri Lanka out from the jaws of defeat to over the moon ecstasy, a feature he scripted against the high riding Australians this February with a match winning half century and century to a historic 2-nil series triumph at home.
The day largely belonged to the stocky explosive batsman hailing from Down South Galle who played yet another innings of his life in unleashing the gung-ho with his bat to walking the talk the previous day when the Lankan skipper said that he was aiming high to taking Sri Lanka to the No.3 ICC rankings and aiming for the top No.1 team rankings under his leadership.
Sri Lanka finally put up a challenging 244 in 49.2 overs and skewed up Bangladesh for167 in 35.5 overs with the spin duo dramatically changing the complexion of the game Sri Lanka’s way as the visitors lost their way from a winning leverage.
Chief Scores
Sri Lanka 244 (49.2 Overs)
(Charith Asalanka 106, Kusal Mendis 45, Jnith Liyanage 29, Milan Rathnayake 22, Wanindu Hasaranga 22, Taskin Ahmed 4/47, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/45, Najmul Hossain Shanto 1/32, Tanvir Islam 1/44)
Bangladesh 167 (35.5 Overs)
(Tanzid Hasan 62, Jaker Ali 51, Najmul Hossain Shanto 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/10, Kamindu Mendis 3/19, Asitha Fernando 1/38)
