Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka held his nerve as he defended 12 runs in the last over to clinch the first T20I of the three match series against Bangladesh by three runs despite a blistering 34-ball 68 from Tigers batter Jaker Ali Anik in Sylhet on Monday.
It appeared that Mahmudullah’s lone fight — a 31-ball 54 — would be the only noteworthy innings in a potentially losing cause but Jaker picked up the pace and smashed six sixes and four boundaries and almost took Bangladesh home. The right-handed batter was caught at long-off mid-way into the 20th over, with Bangladesh still needing 10 runs to win. Shoriful Islam smashed a four and ran for single after that and Taskin Ahmed failed to hit it for a four in the final delivery as the hosts fell three runs short.
Bangladesh’s top four accounted for 40 runs off 41 balls as the hosts were reduced to 68 for four after nine overs. Mahmudullah smashed a 27-ball fifty and built a 47-run stand with Jaker. He was dismissed while trying to up the ante but Jaker took the onus on himself and almost single-handedly kept the Tigers alive in the contest.
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama smashed fifties to propel Sri Lanka to 206 for three in the first T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Monday.
Mendis smashed six fours and three sixes for his 36-ball 59, while Sadeera put away eight fours and a six in his unbeaten 48-ball 61 as they put on a 96-run stand for the third wicket before the former got dismissed by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
Bangladesh batter jaker Ali Anik justified his selection with a 25-ball fifty which helped keep his side alive in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet on Monday.
Jaker smashed six sixes and a four for an unbeaten 25-ball 53 which propelled Bangladesh to 170 for five, meaning the hosts needed 27 runs in the last three overs to chase down Sri Lanka 207-run target.