Sri Lanka thundered down Bangladesh by 7 wickets by a smashing batting display fronted by openers Kusal Mendis. an explosive 73 off 51 balls with 3 to the stands and 5 to the ropes. and 42 off 16 with 3 over the top and 5 across in typically heightening cricket’s hamburger literally instant action showpiece in its true crowd selling perspective to sating a capacity spectator turnout at the Pallekelke International Cricket Stsdium to go 1-up in the 3-match T20 series on a high of 159 for 3 wickets to nudging the Banglas 155 for 5 off 20 after being put into bat.
Indeed, true to the patriotic Sri Lankan Lions slogan the Mendis-Nissanka onslaught was stellar seller rooftop lightning stuff that rocketed the night crowd to their feet in making short shrift of Bangladesh settled by the top three with one drop Kussl Janith Perera hammering a run a ball 25 with 2 boundaries and a six.
In that 1-up jubilation Kusal Mendis held center stage in yet another Player of the Match award illumination as Sri Lanka ended the T20 opener in their bag in an insulation of rearing to go for a series clean sweep in an apparent form book poise to closing down on an opposition at pains to manly getting its batting on an even keel. The highest score of 38 by opener Parvez Hossain Emom was a reflection of a Bangladesh batting unit found wanting in the key game driving component that is the lending firepower in the short format without the essence of which it is a lost cause. As it was Bangladesh just managed to scrape through to a fair 150 plus total from a lowly 89 for 4 into 12.3 overs.
That was when medium pacer Nuwan Thushara had Tanzid Hasan caught by Mahees Theekshana for 16 and Litton Das followed LBW to Jeffrey Vandersay for 6 as Bangladesh were clawing on 67 for 3 into 8.4 overs when Theekshana had him held by Dasun Shanaka for 38 as the former captain soon sprung into the action sending back the stubborn Towhid Hridoy for 10 caught behind by Mendis as Bangladesh wobbled on 89 for 4 after 12.3 overs before pedaling to 135 for 5 into 18.3 on a fifth wicket stand of 46 runs between Mohammad Naim who stood to the end unbeaten on 32 off 29 balls with a six and boundary and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz 29 off 23 with 4 boundaries. But the partnership was broken by Shanaka who had the Bangladesh skipper held by his opposite number Charith Asalanka for his second wicket.
Bangladesh added a further 19 in the next 9 balls.
Chief Scores
Bangladesh 154/5 20 Overs
Parvez Hossain Emon 38, Mohammad Naim n.o. 32, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 29, Shamin Hossain n.o. 14, Towhid Hridoy 10, Mahees Theekshana 2/37, Dasun Shanaka1/22, Jeffrey Vandersay 1/25, Nuwan Thushara 1/32
Sri Lanka 159/3 19 Overs
Kusal Mendis 73, Pathum Nissanka 42, Kusal Janith Perera 25, Avishka Fernando n.o. 11, Charith Asalanka n.o. 8, Mohammad Saifuddin 1/22, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1/24
Pathum Nissanka in full flow