Menids, Liyanage fifties push Sri Lanka to 255

50 overs Sri Lanka 255 (Liyanage 67, Mendis 56, Tanzim 3-44, Shoriful 3-51) vs Bangladesh

Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam additionally took three wickets whereas Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the opposite wicket to fall. They mixed nicely to hold Sri Lanka to a average complete on the flat Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium pitch, the place massive scores batting first have been the norm in white-ball cricket.

The guests seemed rampant within the first powerplay after they selected to bat. Openers Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka, who had stands of 182 and 173 in opposition to Afghanistan final month, continued from the place they left off in Pallekele. Their boundary barrage left the Bangladesh bowlers clueless, every hitting 5 fours and a six. Nissanka lofted two of his boundaries over mid-off, and struck his six off Taijul Islam over vast long-on.

Fernando seemed the extra ominous of the 2, timing the ball sweetly for 4 boundaries by way of the sq. off-side discipline. He swung Shoriful Islam over the square-leg fencing, and into the stands. So when Tanzim had Fernando caught behind within the tenth over, Bangladesh’s wild celebrations had been anticipated.

Two boundaries in his first over did not deter Tanzim from bowling a fullish size that dragged out each Nissanka and Fernando. The latter tried to power one by way of the off-side, which resulted in his dismissal for a run-a-ball 33. Subsequent over, Tanzim had Nissanka caught at slip for 36, though it was not the standard route.

Nissanka toed the his pull shot to a bewildered Soumya Sarkar, who was simply moved to third slip by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto earlier than that ball. After finishing the straightforward catch, Soumya’s finger pointing to one aspect of the bottom urged that he struggled to decide up the ball.

Tanzim wasn’t achieved although. In his subsequent over, Mushfiqur Rahim took an exquisite diving catch from Sadeera Samarawickrama’s exterior edge. Tanzim took 20 balls to flip Sri Lanka’s consolation of 71 for no loss, to 84 for 3.

Sri Lanka consolidated from this crash with captain Mendis holding issues collectively. He first added 44 runs together with his deputy Charith Asalanka, who fell to a Mehidy magnificence, a supply pitching on off and center and turning sufficient to hit off-stump. Mendis discovered Liyanage a extra ready accomplice, including 69 runs with the newcomer.

Mendis fell on 59 however Liyanage pressed on with the innings’ high rating. He struck an identical sixes off Taijul by way of vast long-on, however struck three extra fours in his 67 off 69 balls.

Taskin beat Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana with tempo, getting them caught at third-man and slip respectively. Shoriful then took the final three wickets. Liyanage was caught behind within the forty seventh over, earlier than Pramod Madushan and Dilshan Madushanka each gave catches within the in-field.