By Srian Obeyesekere

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto flayed the Sri Lankan attack to the tune of 122 129 balls powered by 13 boundaries and 2 sixes in sweeping Sri Lanka by 6 wickets and 32 balls to spare in the opening ODI day-night as the Lankans flattering run faltered by a wilting batting and bowling performance with a score of 255 in failing to cover 50 overs by seven deliveries proving inadequate to stopping the Bangladeshi’s despite being reduced to 3 wickets for 23 by the sixth over at the Zhur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram yesterday.

The Bangladesh attack exposed loopholes in the Lankan batting mechanism with only two worthwhile contributions from No.6 Janith Liyanage’s 67 and one drop, skipper Kusal Mendis’s 59 with openers Pathum Nissanka 36 (28b, 5×4, 1×6) and Avishka Fernando a run a ball 33 (5×4, 1×6) failing to translate their 71 opening partnership to desired heights as both fell in quick succession, the latter caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and one run later Nissanka becoming Sakib’s second victim caught by Soumya Sarkar making it 72 for 2 after 11.1 overs. Things further disintegrated for the visitors when Sakib sent back Sadeera Samarawickrama caught behind for 3 – 84 for 3 after 13.1 and when Charith Asalanka was bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 18 off 37 (2×4) Sri Lanka was 128 for 4 just into the halfway mark of 25.2 overs. The advent of Janith Liyanage saw a repair job of 69 between Mendis for the fifth wicket off 68 balls when the skipper exited caught by Shanto off Taskin Ahmed for a 75-ball innings that contained 5 boundaries and a six. Liyanage went on to add a further 24 for the sixth-wicket together with Wanindu Hasaranga whose brief run a ball 13 included a six and boundary was ended by Taskin Ahmed to a catch by Towhid Hridoy with the score on 221. Liyanage was eighth out with Sri Lanka on 244 after 46.1, his 67 coming off 69 hitting 3 boundaries and 2 sixes caught behind off Shoriful Islam as the last two wickets fell for 11 runs.

Bangladesh started disastrously losing both openers for 14 in 2.4 over when Dilshan Madushanka clean bowled Litton Das for a first ball golden duck, and went on to send back Soumya Sarkar caught by Maheesh Theekshana for 3 off 9. Pramod Madushan, from the other end clean bowled Hridoy for 3 off 5, but Bangladesh’s recovery was mounted by the gutty Hossain Shanto who added 69 for the fourth-wicket off 62 balls with Mahmudullah a run a ball 37 with 4 boundaries and a six when the latter was taken out by Lahiru Kumara who had him caught by Madushanka with the score reading 92 after 15.3. But that was as far as Sri Lanka went as Shanto got on top in that Player of the Match feat with great support from the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim who struck 73 off 84 inclusive of 8 boundaries in sharing in an unfinished 165 partnership for the fifth-wicket.

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka 255 (48.5 Overs) RR: 5.22

(Janith Liyanage 67, Kusal Mendis 59, Pathum Nissanka 36, Avishka Fernando 33, Charith Asalanka 18, Wanindu Hasaranga 13, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/44, Shoriful Islam 3/51, Taskin Ahmed 3/60,

Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1/33).

Bangladesh 257/4 (44.4 Over) RR: 5.75

(Najmul Hossain Shanto n.o. 122, Mushfiqur Rahim n.o. 73, Mahmudullah 37, Dilshan

Madushanka 2/44, Pramod Madushan 1/53).