Sri Lanka win first T20 by six wickets
Ban: 193/3 in 20 overs, SL: 194/4, Perera 39*, Shanaka 42*
Thisara Perera and Dashun Shanaka played powerful knocks, picking up runs in quick time to ensure an easy victory for the Lankans in the first T20 of the series.
Sri Lanka reached the target with six wickets and 20 balls to spare as they went up 1-0 in the two match series. Shanaka blazed an unbeaten 42 off 24 balls while Perera remained not out on an 18-ball 39 as Tigers bowlers were smashed to all corners of the park.
Earlier, Sri Lanka were off to a flier as thanks left-hander Danushka Gunathilaka, who raced to 30 off 15 deliveries and Kusal Mendis, who was batting on 21. The duo ensured that Lankans reach their first 50 inside just five overs but debutant Nazmul removed Gunathilaka, out stumped in the fifth over to make a breakthrough for the Tigers.
Mendis then unleashed fury in the next over and Mustafizur Rahman was on the receiving end as the batsman struck three boundaries on the trot off the first three deliveries of the sixth over. Mendis continued to take the game away from the Tigers and he reached his fifty in style with a six off Afif to bring up his first T20 fifty. The off-spinner however got his revenge as Mendis went for a big one but was holed out at long-off in the eight over. Nazmul got his second wicket when he removed Upul Tharanga in the ninth over with the Lanka score at 92. Rubel then got the scalp of Niroshan Dickwella in the twelfth over to bring the Tigers back into the game but Perera and Shanaka ensured that Sri Lanka reached home without breaking a sweat.
Mushy helps Tigers to record T20 total
Mushfiqur Rahim blazes an unbeaten 66 off 44 deliveries which helps Tigers to their highest T20 score, beating the 190 for five they set against Ireland back in 2012.
Mushfiqur's thunderous knock propelled the Tigers to 193 for the loss of five wickets as the diminutive right-hander struck seven fours and a six to also record his highest score in T20I cricket. He and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad starred in a fine 53-ball 73 as Tigers went after the Lankan bowling, looking to redeem themselves after the ODI and T20 disappointments. Mahmudullah struck some sweetly timed shots including a glorious six over extra-cover off Shehan Madushanka.
Mahmudullah contributed with a fine 31-ball 43, hitting two fours and two sixes before falling to Isuru Udana in the 19th over. Sabbir failed to impress, getting bowled by Thisara Perera in the last over after scoring just one. Mushfiqur's cheeky shot in the last over helped Tigers go past their previous highest score as he opened the face of his bat to steer Perera through third man for four.
Soumya Sarkar makes stormy return
Bangladesh's Soumya Sarkar makes a stormy return to the Tigers' squad as he struck a 32-ball 51 against Sri Lanka in the first T20 at Mirpur as Tigers reach 100 after ten overs.
After missing from the squad for the ODI and the Test series, Soumya made a statement with this smashing fifty.
The left-handed batsman put away Shehan Madushanka for a four and six in the very first over. He started his innings with a punch that fans have come to expect from him – a trademark punch through mid-wicket for four. He then top-edged the pacer for six over the keeper's head.
Bangladesh were off to a flying start thanks to Soumya's blistering innings. At the end of the first six overs Bangladesh were 71 for the loss of one wicket, that of opener Zakir Hossain.
Soumya then latched onto Isuru Udana, hitting the lef-arm pacer for three consecutive fours – first one lifted over mid off before two short deliveries were swiveled away towards fine leg.
He then showed fine balance as he hit Akila Dananjaya for a flat six through mid on as he continued his carnage with new batsman at the crease Mushfiqur Rahim. He finally fell to Jeevan Mendis in the first ball of the 11th over, out leg-before.