Sri Lanka lose first T20I series to Bangladesh 2-1

Thursday, 17 July 2025 01:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pathum Nissanka top-scored for Sri Lanka with 46

Dasun Shanaka gave a late impetus to the Sri Lanka innings with 35*

Mahedi Hasan destroyed the Sri Lankan top order with a career-best 4/11

Tanzid Hasan celebrates his half-century in the company of Towhid Hridoy

Another pathetic performance sums up Sri Lanka’s woes in shortest format

Another pathetic batting performance and some insipid fielding by Sri Lanka saw Bangladesh coast to a thumping 8-wicket win in the third and final T20I played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday, and with it take the three-match series 2-1.

It was Bangladesh’s first T20I series win against Sri Lanka in six attempts.

Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat first, but the Sri Lankan batters could not do justice to the decision. Pathum Nissanka (46 off 39 balls) played a decent knock at the top of the order and some late flourish from Dasun Shanaka (35* off 25) took Sri Lanka to 132-7—but it was never going to be enough.

Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan, who replaced another of his type Mehidy Hasan, was brilliant in the powerplay as he choked the Sri Lankan batters with his spin and kept taking wickets at regular intervals from the outset to finish with career best figures of 4/11 – a performance that gave him the Player of the Match award.

Nissanka got off to a fine start, but the Sri Lankan opener failed to convert his start into a formidable score. He could not get any support from the other batters as the spinners weaved their magic in the powerplay and thereafter. Mustafizur Rahman used his slower deliveries to great effect as the Lankan batters struggled to score against him. There were only three double-digit scores in the Lankan innings and that alone told the story of their batting.

In response, Nuwan Thushara trapped Parvez Hossain on the first ball of the innings to give the hosts a perfect start. But Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das batted with composure. They took the ones and twos and took calculated risks to keep the scoreboard ticking to raise a partnership of 74 off 50 balls.

The Bangladeshi skipper fell against the run of play for 32 off 26 balls, but they were already cruising by then. Tanzid Hasan struck six maximums and raised a free-flowing fifty to remain unbeaten on 73 off 47 balls when victory was achieved. Towhid Hridoy (27* off 25) played the perfect foil to him and, together, they took Bangladesh to a thumping win with an unbroken third wicket stand of 59 off 48 balls.

Litton Das, with 114 runs and 5 victims behind the wicket, was named Player of the Series.

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