Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 2018, 1st T20I in Mirpur, Highlights: As It Happened

Tamim Iqbal. (AFP Photo)

Commentary (Sri Lanka innings)

So, Sri Lanka continue to rise, something which was missing on their part since quite a while. Since the tri-series final, they have been marching in the right direction and on the back of today's performance, they are on the cusp of taking the T20I series as well. Bangladesh had another forgetful outing. Not that they were appalling but Sri Lanka were all over them today despite a good batting show from the hosts. Can they square the series on February 18th in Sylhet? Do join us at 1700 local (1100 GMT) to find out. Until then, Adios! Cheers!

Man of the Match, Kusal Mendis is very happy to get the runs for his side. Thanks the coaching staff for helping him out. Informs was asked to attack and consume less balls during the chase.

Victorious skipper, Dinesh Chandimal starts saying they had no idea that the wicket would be this good to bat on. Admits 194 is a big total and it's tough on any wicket but appreciates his openers to provide them a solid start. Smiles and says it was a good toss to lose then. Lauds Shanaka and Perera to finish it off for them. Opines they don't want to underestimate Bangladesh and would look to put up a similar show in the next T20I on Sunday.

Bangladesh skipper, Mahmudullah admits they were at least 15-20 runs short which is why they lost the game. Feels his bowlers couldn't execute their lengths and opines on such surfaces, if the length isn't found, you'll always be punished. Adds they had a lot of chat regarding the no. 3 and finally decided to hand the responsibility to Rahim. Appreciates the keeper for putting his hand up. Overall, he is pretty happy with the efforts from his batters. Calls it a tough day at the office and hopes for a good show in the last game.

After the departure of both the openers, there was a slew of wickets but Dasun Shanaka and Thisara Perera came to the fore in an emphatic manner and made sure that the required rate never swelled. Their association of 65 from just 30 balls helped them end their 8-match losing streak in this format with 20 balls to spare. The hosts' bowlers apart from Nazmul Islam were really below par. They received a massive beating as all of them were taken to the cleaners. Stick with us for the presentation...

Sri Lanka have beaten Bangladesh black and blue to achieve the highest successful run chase in Bangladesh. After getting swatted all-around the park in the first innings, Sri Lanka's openers, especially Kusal Mendis who was drafted into the side in place of Kusal Perera, did justice to his selection. He continued his form from white attire and blazed his way to a quickfire fifty off just 25 balls. He was well supported by Danushka Gunathilaka as the duo strung 53 for the opening wicket to set the tone for the chase.

16.4 R Hossain to D Shanaka, That's it! Sri Lanka win! Back of a length delivery outside off, Shanaka taps it in front of point and calls through. The fielder has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Sri Lanka chase down the target inside 17 overs! 194/4

16.4 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Five wides! Short ball, kicking off the surface and Shanaka cannot connect his pull. Poor Rahim leaps but even he fails to stop it. It races down to the fence and the scores are level now! 193/4

16.3 R Hossain to T Perera, Driven through cover for a single. 188/4

16.2 R Hossain to T Perera, FOUR! Into the gap! Drops it on a length on middle, Perera once again stays leg side and smites it over mid-wicket for a boundary. 187/4

16.1 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Shortish delivery, angling in, Shanaka looks to pull but mistimes it towards mid-wicket as the bowler himself mops it up. 183/4

16.1 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Wide! Slower delivery, down the leg side, DS moves inside the line to let it be. 182/4

Rubel Hossain is back into the attack. Just 13 needed now. Will SL chase it down in this over?

15.6 A Hossain to T Perera, SIX! Poor delivery and duly punished! Drops it short on the stumps, Perera goes deep in the crease and pulls it massively over mid-wicket for a maximum. Brings up the 50-run stand as well. Sri Lanka cruising their way to go 1-0 up. 181/4

15.5 A Hossain to T Perera, FOUR! Drops it short on middle, pulled over mid-wicket for a boundary. 175/4

15.4 A Hossain to T Perera, Backs away and flat bats it straight down the ground. Saifuddin from long on runs to his right and makes a good stop. Two picked up. 171/4

15.3 A Hossain to D Shanaka, Good stop! Gets down to play the reverse sweep by taking it on the full. Makes good connection but the man at short third man does well to stop it with a dive. A single taken. 169/4

15.2 A Hossain to T Perera, Darted on the stumps, Perera swings at it but wears it on the pads. The ball rolls away towards the off side for a leg bye is taken. 168/4

15.1 A Hossain to T Perera, Flatter ball, angling in, Thisara taps it out to the off side. 167/4

Mohammad Saifuddin is back into the attack.Actually, scratch that. Afif Hossain is handed over the ball now.

14.6 M Rahman to D Shanaka, SIX! Ho! Ho! Ho! This is some show from the Lankans here. They want to finish it off quickly it seems. Dances down to a length ball and launches it over long on for a maximum. Shanaka moves to 39 from 21 and his side just needs three short of 30. 167/4

14.5 M Rahman to T Perera, Mistimed shot! No damage done though! Short ball, angling in, Perera looks to heave it across the line but mistimes it horribly. The man from deep mid-wicket and long on go after it but it lands safely between them. A single taken. 161/4

14.4 M Rahman to T Perera, FOUR! Bam! Thisara Perera, you freak! Wonder where does he generate so much power from? Rahman doles out a full toss, it's dipping in, TP backs away just a touch and goes bang down the ground for a boundary. 160/4

14.3 M Rahman to T Perera, Very full on the stumps, driven straight to mid off. 156/4

14.3 M Rahman to T Perera, Wide! Similar to the ball Rahman bowled on the last ball of his previous over. Short ball, swirling over the head of Perera who doesn't play at it. 156/4

14.2 M Rahman to T Perera, Clever from Rahman! Fires in a yorker on the leg stump, Perera makes room but could only dig it out back to the bowler. 155/4

14.1 M Rahman to D Shanaka, Cutter which shapes away from Shanaka, he pushes it towards cover for a single. 155/4

13.6 R Hossain to T Perera, SIX! Struck firmly! 19 off the over and Sri Lanka are on a roll here. Perera stands tall to this back of a length delivery and pummels it over backward square leg for the second maximum of the over. 154/4

13.5 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Pulled through mid-wicket for a single. 148/4

13.4 R Hossain to D Shanaka, FOUR! Booming shot! Rubel Hossain is taken for aplenty here! Serves a length ball, Shanaka skips down the track and slaps it over a leaping backward point fielder for a boundary. A shake of a head from the bowler. 147/4

13.3 R Hossain to T Perera, Waits for the ball to curl back in and then whips it off his hips over mid-wicket for a single. 143/4

13.2 R Hossain to T Perera, SIX! That's gone all the way! Stand and deliver stuff from the powerful Perera! Back of a length delivery on the stumps, Thisara backs away and slams it straight down the ground for a biggie. 142/4

13.1 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Angles it in on middle and leg, cramps the batsman for room. Tucked towards square leg for a single. 136/4

12.6 M Rahman to T Perera, Slower bouncer, it loops over Perera who just stands and lets it be. Looks at the square leg umpire but nothing from him. Good comeback from The Fizz. Just 5 off it. 59 needed off 42 now. 135/4

12.5 M Rahman to T Perera, FOUR! Thumped! Fuller in length by Rahman, Perera reaches out to that one and flays it through cover for a boundary. 135/4

12.4 M Rahman to T Perera, Another cutter, served outside off, Perera backs away and mistimes his punch to mid off. Shouts NO straightaway. 131/4

12.3 M Rahman to D Shanaka, Another cutter but this time on the pads, clipped uppishly over backward square leg for just a single. Just 1 off the first three deliveries. 131/4

12.2 M Rahman to D Shanaka, Superb delivery! The cutter, it grips off the surface, Shanaka gets squared up a touch as he pats it towards cover. 130/4

12.1 M Rahman to D Shanaka, Good ball! Yorker sprayed outside off, Shanaka looks to jam it out but fails to connect. 130/4

Mustafizur Rahman is back into the attack. He gave away 14 in his first over.

11.6 R Hossain to T Perera, Lands it on a length outside off, Perera pushes it back to the bowler. 130/4

11.5 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Angles it in on a length on middle, clipped through mid-wicket for a single. 130/4

Thisara Perera is the new man in, replacing Dickwella.

11.4 R Hossain to N Dickwella, OUT! Rubel Hossain removes Dickwella! To be honest the Lankan keeper never looked in control out there and finally perishes! Short ball, it's well-directed and hurries the southpaw. Niroshan still goes on with the pull shot and gets a big fat top edge towards fine leg. Saifuddin at the ropes, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a good catch. Sri Lanka need 65 off 50 balls. 129/4

11.3 R Hossain to N Dickwella, Good length delivery, angling away from the off stump, Dickwella backs away to cut but fails to get going. 129/3

11.3 R Hossain to N Dickwella, Wide! Down the leg side, Niroshan misses his pull. 129/3

11.2 R Hossain to N Dickwella, FOUR! Top edge! Hossain slants it away on a length outside off, Dickwella looks to pull but gets a top edge which flies towards third man for a boundary. Runs are coming at a quick pace for Sri Lanka. 128/3

11.1 R Hossain to D Shanaka, Good length delivery outside off, DS runs it down to third man for a single. 124/3

Rubel Hossain is back.

10.6 M Saifuddin to D Shanaka, Dasun eases the full ball down to long off to keep strike. 14 off the over. Sri Lanka need 71 from 54 balls. 123/3

10.5 M Saifuddin to D Shanaka, FOUR! Tonk! That's what the sound was when he connected it! Short ball but this sits up at a good height. Shanaka swivels just a bit and pulls it with authority over mid-wicket for back-to-back boundaries. 122/3

10.4 M Saifuddin to D Shanaka, FOUR! Along the ground! Fuller in length delivery outside off, Shanaka leans ahead and drives it sweetly to find the gap between extra cover and mid off for a boundary. He admires the shot himself. 118/3

10.3 M Saifuddin to N Dickwella, Fullish in length and on the pads, worked away through mid-wicket for a single. 114/3

10.2 M Saifuddin to N Dickwella, Fuller in length and on the stumps, Niroshan looks to wrist it away but gets a leading edge towards cover. They don't run though. 113/3

10.1 M Saifuddin to N Dickwella, FOUR! Poor delivery to start the over! Length delivery on the leg stump, Dickwella gets down and across and scoops it past Mahmudullah at short fine leg for a boundary. 113/3

Mohammad Saifuddin is back on.

9.6 Mahmudullah to D Shanaka, SIX! Two-in-two to end the over! This is fired in at a shorter length outside off, Dasun stays back and smites it over extra covers for another biggie. 109-3 at the halfway stage. 109/3

9.5 Mahmudullah to D Shanaka, SIX! Shanaka is a powerful striker of the cricket ball. Gets a flighted delivery on the stumps, he bangs this over long on for half a dozen. 103/3

9.4 Mahmudullah to N Dickwella, Niroshan gets down and reverse sweeps it through point for one. 97/3

9.3 Mahmudullah to D Shanaka, Turned through mid-wicket for a single. 96/3

9.3 Mahmudullah to D Shanaka, WIDE! Fired down the leg side, DS fails to flick it. 95/3

9.2 Mahmudullah to D Shanaka, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 94/3

9.1 Mahmudullah to N Dickwella, Dickwella taps it to the on side and scurries to the other end. There is a wild shy at the bowler's end but no extra run results. 94/3

Mahmudullah is back into the attack now.

8.6 N Islam to D Shanaka, Another one on the stumps, Shanaka goes back and nudges it to mid-wicket. Nazmul Islam ends with 25-2 tonight. 93/3

8.5 N Islam to D Shanaka, Floated on middle, flicked to mid-wicket. 93/3

8.4 N Islam to N Dickwella, The batsman failed to make contact and was hit low on the pads. Leg byes signalled by the umpire 93/3

The next batter for Sri Lanka is Niroshan Dickwella. Can the swashbuckling southpaw bail his side out of the mush?

8.3 N Islam to U Tharanga, GONE! Caught debutant, bowled debutant. Tharanga's experience counts for nothing now as he is out of here! Islam tosses this up around off and middle, Upul looks to go over deep mid-wicket. Doesn't get the desired distance. Hossain stationed there judges this to perfection and pouches it calmly. A cobra celebration displayed by the bowler, not sure what it signifies. The hosts are getting a good hold on the opposition now. 92/3

8.2 N Islam to D Shanaka, Dasun eases this through mid off for a single. Off the mark with that. 92/2

8.1 N Islam to U Tharanga, Turned through mid-wicket for a single. 91/2

7.6 A Hossain to D Shanaka, Tossed up on the stumps, defended with a lunge. 90/2

Dasun Shanaka is in at 4.

7.5 A Hossain to K Mendis, OUT! Mendis holes out! Maiden T20I wicket for Hossain. Another flighted delivery around off, Mendis comes down the track and looks to go over long off. Fails to clear the man there. Finds Soumya Sarkar on the fence to perfection. The visitors are still 104 away. 90/2

7.4 A Hossain to U Tharanga, Eased down to long on for a single. 90/1

7.3 A Hossain to K Mendis, Glided towards short third man for a single. 89/1

7.2 A Hossain to K Mendis, SIX! Maiden T20I fifty for Kusal Mendis. What a knock it has been so far from him. Gets down the track to this flighted delivery and just blasts it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Well played, lad. 88/1

7.2 A Hossain to K Mendis, WIDE! Tossed up down the leg side Kusal doesn't make any contact on this sweep. 82/1

7.1 A Hossain to K Mendis, FOUR! Seemed as if that's it for Mendis tonight but not to be. Floated delivery on the stumps, he charges down and hoicks it over mid-wicket. There are two fielders converging there but the ball just flies out of reach of both of them and crosses the fence on the bounce. One of the fielders auditioned himself for the hurdles competition in the Olympics with a leap over the advertising board beyond the fence. 81/1

Newcomer Afif Hossain is introduced to the bowling crease.

6.6 N Islam to K Mendis, The batsman gets to the pitch of the ball and connects. They pick up a single. 77/1

6.5 N Islam to K Mendis, A yorker darted on the stumps, dug back to the bowler. 76/1

6.4 N Islam to U Tharanga, Fired on the pads, Tharanga fails to flick it away. An appeal follows but to no avail. Sliding down leg. The ball rolls towards short fine leg and a leg bye taken. 76/1

6.3 N Islam to K Mendis, Turned through mid-wicket for one. 75/1

6.2 N Islam to K Mendis, SIX! Mendis moves to 40 off just 20 balls! He is looking authoritative. This is a nothing delivery though. Islam bowls this on a very short length. Enough time for Kusal to go back and pull it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 74/1

6.1 N Islam to U Tharanga, Floated up around off and middle, Upul gets down on a knee and swings it through backward square leg for one. 68/1

5.6 M Rahman to U Tharanga, Length ball slanting in, Tharanga looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolls to the on side and a run is taken. 14 off Rahman's opening over. The hosts were 71/1 at this stage while the tourists are 67/1. 67/1

5.5 M Rahman to K Mendis, Tapped to the off side for a quick single. 66/1

5.4 M Rahman to K Mendis, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. 65/1

5.3 M Rahman to K Mendis, FOUR! Fizz is being dished out some harsh treatment by Kusal. This is angling away from the batter, Mendis stands tall and lofts it over covers for another boundary. 12 off the first 3 deliveries already. 65/1

5.2 M Rahman to K Mendis, FOUR! Another one! This is overpitched outside off, Mendis gets his front foot forward and drills it through the covers for another boundary. 61/1

5.1 M Rahman to K Mendis, FOUR! Shot! Mendis reaches out to this ball around off and takes it on the full. Drives it through covers and bisects the gap there to fetch a boundary. 57/1

Mustafizur Rahman to bowl now.

4.6 N Islam to U Tharanga, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 53/1

Upul Tharanga is the next man in.

4.5 N Islam to D Gunathilaka, Yes! That's it for Danushka Gunathilaka! When the wicketkeepers are confident, they are seldom wrong. This one is nicely tossed up on the stumps, the southpaw gets down to slog it away. Seems fortunate till the point the ball spun in to miss the leg stick by a whisker. His fortune ends there, though. Rahim gathers it and quickly whips off the bails. He is very confident and the replays show why. The TV umpire gets to see that the back leg is out as the shot is attempted and that's good enough for him to load OUT on the big screen. Maiden T20I scalp for Islam, the tourists are 141 runs away. 53/1

Hoila! Is that it for Gunathilaka tonight? Seems so, as Rahim is overjoyed after whipping the bails off in a flash.

4.4 N Islam to K Mendis, Mendis gets to the pitch of the ball and takes it on the full. Drills it down to long on for one. 53/0

4.3 N Islam to K Mendis, FOUR! Sri Lanka's fifty is up in no time! The openers have made merry in the conditions on offer. Floated delivery on the stumps, Mendis shimmies down and goes over mid on. It's a safe shot as the man is there inside the circle. Gets a boundary for the same. 52/0

4.2 N Islam to D Gunathilaka, Half-tracker, pulled to deep square leg for a single. 48/0

4.1 N Islam to D Gunathilaka, Well done! Ariful Haque at it again. This ball is driven nicely through covers. But the man there dives full length to his left and this is a dot ball. 47/0

Nazmul Islam comes back on. He was decent in the opening over and will bowl the penultimate one of the Powerplay.

3.6 R Hossain to K Mendis, Beaten for pace! Short delivery outside off, Mendis goes for the pull but misses. 47/0

3.5 R Hossain to K Mendis, FOUR! Clever! Back of a length ball on the stumps, Mendis looks to duck initially. But then gets enough bat on that to ramp it over the keeper for a boundary. 47/0

3.4 R Hossain to D Gunathilaka, Nudged through mid-wicket to get to the other end. 43/0

3.3 R Hossain to D Gunathilaka, Length ball on the stumps, defended form the crease. 42/0

3.2 R Hossain to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! 28 off 10, that's Gunathilaka's score! He has been this menacing with his classical strokes. This is full outside off, he bends down on a knee and smites it through covers for a quadruple. 42/0

3.1 R Hossain to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Wow! Beautiful. Full in length on the stumps, Gunathilaka gets his front leg out of the way and smashes it over the bowler's head for a boundary. 38/0

4th bowling option in the 4th over. Rubel Hossain is into the attack now. He replaces Saifuddin who went for 19 in his lone over.

2.6 Mahmudullah to D Gunathilaka, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. One run added to the total. 34/0

2.5 Mahmudullah to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Just over! Tossed up outside off, Gunathilaka makes room to go over mid off. Doesn't get it off the meat due to the away turn. Beats the leaping man at that spot to collect a boundary. 33/0

2.4 Mahmudullah to K Mendis, Excellent effort from Ariful Haque in the deep! Mendis spanks this tossed up ball towards deep mid-wicket and it seems that a maximum is written all over it. But the plane-esque human there rises high, leaps and keeps the ball in play. Multiple replays are summoned to confirm the same. Just a run taken. 29/0

2.3 Mahmudullah to K Mendis, The batsman fails to make contact as it turned a long way. 28/0

2.2 Mahmudullah to K Mendis, Floated outside off, driven to mid off. 28/0

2.1 Mahmudullah to D Gunathilaka, Floated outside off, Danushka taps it towards backward point and sets across for a quick run. The wild shy is had at the keeper's end which hits Mendis as he dives to make it in. 28/0

Mahmudullah to roll his arm over. Early change.

1.6 M Saifuddin to D Gunathilaka, The batsman has dug out that yorker at the last second. The batsmen have run through for a single. 19 off his first over. 27/0

1.5 M Saifuddin to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Make that 3-in-3! Gunathilaka is all over Saifuddin like a rash. Length ball on the pads, he swivels and pulls it over short fine leg for another boundary. 26/0

1.4 M Saifuddin to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Lovely! Two-in-two! Overpitched outside off, Gunathilaka gets his front foot forward and just caresses it through covers. Finds the gap and collects another boundary. 22/0

1.3 M Saifuddin to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Gunathilaka knows where the fielders are placed and is making full use of that. This is full outside off, driven past backward point for a boundary. 18/0

1.3 M Saifuddin to D Gunathilaka, WIDE! Full delivery slanting away, Danushka fails to hit it away. The ball passes outside the tramline and an extra results. 14/0

1.2 M Saifuddin to K Mendis, Turned through mid-wicket for a single. 13/0

1.1 M Saifuddin to K Mendis, FOUR! Welcome to Dhaka, says Mendis with a boundary. Length ball in line of the stumps, Kusal hangs back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. 12/0

Mohammad Saifuddin to share the new ball from the other end.

0.6 N Islam to K Mendis, This one is worked away through square leg for a single. 8/0

0.5 N Islam to D Gunathilaka, Danushka opens his account with a flick through the mid-wicket region for a single. 7/0

0.4 N Islam to K Mendis, The ball takes the outside edge goes towards the slip region. They pick up a single. 6/0

0.3 N Islam to K Mendis, Floated on the stumps, driven back aerially towards the bowler. It lands just short of the bowler. 5/0

0.3 N Islam to K Mendis, WIDE! Fired down the leg side, Kusal fails with his attempted sweep. 5/0

0.2 N Islam to K Mendis, FOUR! Deft! Flatter trajectory just outside off, Mendis stays back and almost takes it off the keeper's gloves. The short third man fielder chases it but comes second best. First runs come off a boundary for the tourists. 4/0

0.1 N Islam to K Mendis, Confusion straightaway. This is what happens when a new pair is in the middle. This is fired on the pads, Mendis pushes it towards mid on and thinks of a run. But seeing Islam himself run to the ball, Gunathilaka doesn't respond. Kusal does well to get back in, in time. 0/0