Fighting Sri Lankans staged a remarkable comeback from being 67/8 to register an unbelievable 13 runs win over the hosts Bangladesh in their first ODI played at Dhaka.
The match was delayed by more than 2 hours as the ground was hampered by rain before the scheduled start of play. It finally started as a 43 over affair and Bangladesh skipper won the toss and had no hesitation to put the visitors to bat. Dashing Sri Lankan opening pair could only manage 22 runs before the experienced TM Dilshan was sent back to the pavilion by Rubel Hossain. Dilshan’s wicket started an unusual Sri Lankan batting collapse as Bangladesh bowlers bowled and fielded extremely well. Wickets kept on tumbling like a pack of cards as Sri Lanka lost 8 wickets in just 45 runs to put themselves into a peculiar and disappointing situation.
In this situation in walked left handed power hitter Thisara Perera who was joined by Sachithra Senanayake when the Sri Lanka total was 67/8 in 21.3 overs.
Sri Lank was almost certain of being bowled out for less than 100 runs but the ‘Iron Man’ of the current Sri Lanka team, Thisara Perera took the responsibility upon his shoulders to counter attack the Bangladesh bowling, which he did with gusto bludgeoning to all parts of the ground. The heavily built batsman scored an unbeaten 80 runs in 59 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes to propel the Sri Lanka total to a defendable 180 runs. Thisara and Sachithra were involved in a face-saving 82 run partnership for the 9th wicket with Thisara showing maturity when he kept last man Lasith Malinga shielded at the other end to score a useful 31 run partnership for the final wicket. Two left arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan and debutant Arafat Sunny took 2 wickets each for the hosts.
Chasing a modest target of 181 in 43 overs, Bangladesh lost their T20 star Anamul Haque Bijoy in the first over itself. Shamsur Rehman and Mominul Haque steered the chase as they made a risk-free 79 runs for the 2nd wicket before Thisara Perera struck to remove Mominul Haque.
Bangladesh who gave Sri Lanka a fight in the T20 games as well, looked like they would avenge those defeats this time around as they were cruising to victory placed on 114/2 in the 19th over. But the home batsmen pressed the ‘self-destruction’ button as the Sri Lankan bowlers worked their magic to come back from near defeat to have the hosts all out 13 runs short of the target.
Off spinner Sachithra Senanayake bowled a superb tempting spell and he was rewarded effectively in his last over where he got two prized scalps which turned the tables. Skipper Angelo Mathews mixed up his line and length to mount pressure on to the inexperienced Bangladesh batsmen and the Sri Lanka skipper took 3 crucial wickets.
With this morale boosting win, Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in the 3 match ODI series. Sri Lanka’s fighting character during this game would give them confidence and it is expected that this win will bring the ‘mojo’ back in the next games as well as the upcoming Asia Cup & ICC World T20 scheduled to be played in the same country.
Brief Scores :
Sri Lanka – 180 all out in 40 overs : Thisara Perera 80*, Sachithra Senanayake 30, Kusal Perera 20, Arafat Sunny 2/31, Shakib Al Hasan 2/29, Rubel Hossain 2/37.
Bangladesh – 167 all out in 39.2 overs : Shamsur Rehman 62, Mominul Haque 44, Mushfiqur Rahim 27, Angelo Mathews 3/21, Sachithra Senanayake 2/33.
