By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka simply brutalised Bangladesh by 7 wickets in ideally befitting short format slap bang style of 159 for 3 wickets in 19 overs in rendering into the ordinary what looked like an even showdown of a compatibly challenging score of 154 for 5 from a recovery of 4 for 89 by their opponents in 20 overs after being put into bat in a totally subduing upfront gungho by the twosome of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka at their murderous best skyrocketing fashion firing 73 off 51 balls inclusive of 5 boundaries and 3 sixes, and 42 off 16 with 5 to the ropes and 3 sixer volleys respectively in a first-wicket 78-run toying of the bowlers off just 4.4 overs last night to go 1-up in the 3-match T20 series in a typical crowd selling display to a capacity turnout in the hill climes of the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
Sri Lanka thundered down on the target in a show of strength of its frontline three batters with one drop Kussl Janith Perera a run a ball 25 with 2 boundaries and a six, the center piece playmaker being Mendis flaming a run glut that took off from the recent 2-1 ODI triumph in a series tally of a century and half ton to in a recent booty of top player awards in another champaign Player of the Match Award to his laurels on a personal note.
Last night’s Lankan fireworks drama in controlling the game was extraordinarily out of this world package in a top order tearing to ribbons of the Bangladesh attack after the visitors fought back from that initial 89 for 4 setback after 12.3 overs 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 opener Parvez Hossain Emon 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 hi fts 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.
