Sri Lanka and Bangladesh played out a nail-biting encounter in the first match of the three-game T20 series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Monday. Although the Lankans were expected to win the game by a comfortable margin, they did so only by three runs towards its end. Sri Lanka must be relieved after ending up on the winning side.
Batting first, Sri Lanka scored a massive 206-3, thanks largely to half-centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sameera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka’s unbeaten 44. They could run amok against the Bangladeshi bowlers since the pitch was highly conducive to batting and scoring runs.
Bangladesh gave their visitors a real run for their money but ended up short by a mere three runs. Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali put up a decent partnership, and both scored half-centuries of their own. While the former got out for 54, Jaker eventually holed out for 68. After the two departed, however, no one stuck around. Sri Lanka picked up a crucial win in the first game of the series.
