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Charith Asalanka's robust century coupled with Wanindu Hasaranga's fiery four-fer helped Sri Lanka annihilate Bangladesh by 77 runs in the first ODI, played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, July 2. Captain Charith Asalanka led from the front, scoring a magnificent 106 off 123 which rallied Sri Lankan to a total of 244 in their stipulated 49.2 overs. Later, their bowlers successfully defended the target of 245 runs, dismissing Bangladesh for just 167 runs in 35.5 overs.
Sri Lanka bully Bangladesh by 77 runs in 1st ODI
Bangladesh started their chase strongly, reaching 100 runs for the loss of just one wicket at one stage. However, they subsequently collapsed and were eventually bowled out for a mere 167 runs. Sri Lanka's bowling attack was spearheaded by Wanindu Hasaranga, who delivered an exceptional performance, claiming 4 wickets while conceding only 10 runs in his 7.5 overs. Apart from Hasaranga's brilliance, Kamindu Mendis also contributed significantly with the ball, picking up three wickets for 19 runs in his five overs.
For Bangladesh, Tanzid Hasan and Jaker Ali managed to score half-centuries, contributing 62 and 51 runs respectively. However, the other batsmen in the Bangladesh lineup failed to provide substantial contributions with the bat, ultimately leading to their massive defeat.
Charith Asalanka steadies Sri Lanka's boat with incredible century
Sri Lanka did not have an ideal start after choosing to bat first in the match, finding themselves at 29 for 3 within the initial eight overs. Pathum Nissanka, who had been in good form, was dismissed for a duck when he edged a cut shot off Tanzim Hasan Sakib to the wicketkeeper. Nishan Madushka was then bowled after dragging a Taskin Ahmed delivery onto his stumps, and Taskin also accounted for Kamindu Mendis, who offered a simple catch to mid-off for a duck. Amidst these early setbacks, Kusal Mendis was playing confidently at the other end, scoring boundaries freely, including two fours and a six off Tanzim in the sixth over. Asalanka then joined the attack, hitting some impressive shots, including a six over cover off Taskin and a slog-sweep for a six against Mehidy Hasan Miraz, helping Sri Lanka reach the 50-run mark at the end of the tenth over.
Kusal Mendis and Asalanka managed to build a 60-run partnership before it was broken in the 19th over. Kusal was trapped leg-before-wicket by debutant left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, falling just five runs short of his half-century. Asalanka continued to bat positively, hitting a six off Taskin on his way to a 61-ball fifty. Janith Liyanage provided good support from the other end, and together they forged a fifty-run partnership, providing a steady platform for Sri Lanka. However, Bangladesh struck back again, ending this promising partnership when Najmul Hossain Shanto caught Liyanage at long-on. In the following over, however, Shanto was hit for a six by Asalanka and a four by Milan Rathnayake. The new playing conditions also came into effect, with Bangladesh having to select one of the two available balls after the 34th over.
Rathnayake contributed a useful 39 runs in partnership with Asalanka before being bowled by Tanzim for 22. Wanindu Hasaranga then played a quickfire innings of 22 runs, including three boundaries, but his innings was cut short by Taskin, who also dismissed Maheesh Theekshana, leaving Sri Lanka at 228 for 8 in the 46th over. Asalanka went on to complete his fifth ODI century but was dismissed in the final over, as Tanzim finished with three wickets, ensuring that Sri Lanka's total remained below 250.
Bangladesh's epic batting collapse
Parvez Hossain Emon, who was making his debut in the Bangladesh XI, started confidently alongside Tanzid Hasan. The opening pair scored six boundaries between them in the first five overs. However, Emon's attempted slog went wrong, and he was dismissed by Asitha Fernando for 13. Tanzid then hit a four and a six off Rathnayake, while Shanto got going with two fours off Fernando. Both batsmen scored at a decent pace, with Tanzid reaching his fifty off 51 balls. Their partnership went past 70 before Bangladesh experienced a batting collapse.
The collapse began with the run-out of Shanto, who was short of his crease despite a dive while attempting a second run. Hasaranga then struck twice in the 18th over, putting Bangladesh in further trouble. Litton Das was trapped leg-before-wicket for a duck, and the well-set Tanzid was dismissed by a spectacular diving catch from Liyanage at mid-off. More wickets followed quickly, with Towhid Hridoy being bowled by Kamindu, and the new captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz also falling lbw to Hasaranga soon after. The ambidextrous bowler Kamindu then picked up the wickets of Tanzim and Taskin in the same over. Bangladesh, who were comfortably placed at 100 for 1, lost seven wickets for just five runs, slipping to 105 for 8.
Tanvir hit a loose delivery from Kamindu for a boundary, and Jaker also scored a four off the same bowler as the ninth-wicket pair added 20 runs, spending nearly eight overs at the crease. However, Theekshana broke the partnership, having Tanvir caught behind. Jaker then hit sixes off Asalanka and Theekshana, and also struck a four and a six off Fernando as he attempted to fight back. He also managed to take most of the strike, while Mustafizur hung around at the other end. Boundaries off Hasaranga and Theekshana helped Jaker reach his fifty off 59 balls as he kept Bangladesh's hopes alive.
Adding to Sri Lanka's frustrations, they were penalised five runs for starting an over late for the third time, after two prior warnings. However, this did not have a significant impact on the result, as Hasaranga ended Jaker's valiant innings by trapping him leg-before-wicket, securing the win for Sri Lanka in the 36th over.
Meanwhile, the second ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be played on July 5.
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