Kusal Mendis stars as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in 1st T20I

Post by : Mumtaaz Qadiri

Photo: AFP

Bangladesh was invited to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss. Their openers, Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan, started well and scored quickly in the first five overs. But Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara gave the first breakthrough by dismissing Tanzid in the fifth over when Bangladesh had 46 runs on the board.

Soon after, Bangladesh captain Litton Das also fell cheaply. He scored just 6 runs before being dismissed by leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay in the eighth over. This put the visitors under pressure as they stood at 65/2.

Parvez Hossain Emon was looking good, scoring 38 runs off just 22 balls. But his innings was cut short in the ninth over by off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. This was a big blow for Bangladesh, as they lost one of their set batters right when they needed a partnership to build.

Middle-order batsman Towhid Hridoy also failed to impress. He scored 10 runs from 13 balls before being dismissed, adding more trouble for the visitors.

In the later part of the innings, Mehidy Hasan Miraz added some valuable runs with a steady 29-run knock. Meanwhile, Mohammad Naim stayed unbeaten on 32 off 29 balls, ensuring Bangladesh had some stability. Shamim Hossain then gave a late push with a quickfire 14 off just 5 balls to help the team reach a respectable total of 154/7 in their 20 overs.

From the Sri Lankan bowling side, Theekshana was the most effective, picking up 2 wickets for 37 runs in his four overs. Vandersay and Dasun Shanaka also did well, taking one wicket each and keeping the run rate under control.

Sri Lanka Starts Strong in the Chase

Chasing a target of 155, Sri Lanka had a dream start thanks to their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. The duo came out with an attacking mindset and punished the Bangladeshi bowlers right from the first over.

In just 3.1 overs, they brought up their 50-run partnership. Nissanka was particularly explosive, hitting five fours and three sixes in his 42-run innings, which came off just 16 balls. His fiery knock gave Sri Lanka an upper hand early in the game. However, he got out in the fifth over to Mehidy Hasan Miraz when the team had already reached 78 runs.

Despite the loss of Nissanka, Mendis kept the momentum going. He played with great confidence, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease. His aggressive strokeplay kept the Bangladesh bowlers under pressure.

At the end of the six-over powerplay, Sri Lanka had already scored 83 runs—a brilliant position in a T20 chase.

Middle Order Wobble Slows Things Down

After Nissanka’s departure, experienced batter Kusal Perera came to bat at number three. Unlike the openers, Perera found it hard to score freely. He struggled throughout his innings and ended up scoring 24 runs off 25 balls, which slowed down the run chase for Sri Lanka.

His slow knock created some tension in the middle, especially after Kusal Mendis, who was going strong, got out in the 18th over. Mendis had played a match-winning knock of 73 runs from 51 balls. His innings included five boundaries and three big sixes and was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s chase.

Mendis was dismissed by Mohammad Saifuddin, but by then Sri Lanka needed just 7 more runs to win.

Sri Lanka Finishes the Job Comfortably

Even though the last few overs weren’t as smooth as the beginning, Sri Lanka didn’t panic. Charith Asalanka, the captain, and Avishka Fernando ensured there were no more hiccups. While Fernando played cautiously for his 11 runs off 17 balls, Asalanka finished things off with an unbeaten 8 from 5 balls, including a six that sealed the win.

Sri Lanka reached the target in 19 overs, finishing at 155/3 and taking a 1-0 lead in the T20I series.

Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis was without a doubt the star of the match. His 73-run knock came at a crucial time and set the tone for a smooth chase. With powerful shots and smart placement, he ensured the team was always ahead in the game. His partnership with Nissanka made it very difficult for Bangladesh to make a comeback.

What’s Next?

This win gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the T20I series, with more matches to follow. Bangladesh will need to bounce back quickly if they want to keep their hopes alive in the series. Their bowling and middle-order batting both need improvements, while Sri Lanka will look to continue their good form.

Final Score

Bangladesh – 154/7 (20 overs)