🏏 Sri Lanka Outclass Bangladesh in T20I Opener to Take 1–0 Lead

Sri Lanka continued their impressive run at home by defeating Bangladesh by 7 wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. With this victory, Sri Lanka now leads the series 1–0 and will look to seal the series in the second game scheduled for July 13 in Dambulla.

Coming into the series with high confidence after winning both the Test (1–0) and ODI (2–1) legs, Sri Lanka maintained their momentum in the shortest format. It was a complete performance led by their top-order batters and disciplined bowling attack.

🔥 Mendis and Nissanka Lead the Charge

Chasing a modest target of 155, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start thanks to an explosive partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Nissanka played a stunning cameo, scoring 42 off just 16 balls, which included six boundaries and two towering sixes. His aggressive approach put the Bangladesh bowlers on the back foot early.

After Nissanka’s dismissal in the fifth over, Mendis took over the chase with a calm yet commanding innings. He scored an unbeaten 73 off 51 balls, anchoring the innings and ensuring there were no further hiccups. Mendis was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock.

Youngster Sadeera Samarawickrama also chipped in with a steady 22, supporting Mendis in the middle overs. Sri Lanka eventually reached the target in 19 overs, finishing at 156/3 and securing a comfortable win.

🎯 Bangladesh Falter After Decent Start

Earlier in the evening, Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, won the toss and elected to bat first. The visitors got off to a cautious yet steady start. Openers Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar added 37 runs for the first wicket. However, they failed to accelerate when needed.

The standout for Bangladesh was Parvez Hossain Emon, who scored a quickfire 38 off 22 balls, injecting momentum in the middle overs. Despite his efforts, the Lankan bowlers kept the pressure on with regular breakthroughs. Bangladesh could only manage 154/5 in their 20 overs.

Sri Lankan bowlers were impressive throughout. Skipper Dasun Shanaka was the most economical, finishing with figures of 0/22 in 4 overs. Maheesh Theekshana picked up two key wickets while conceding 37 runs, while Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga also kept things tight.

🗣️ Reactions and Aftermath

Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, who took over the reins following Dhananjaya de Silva’s injury, praised the team’s all-round performance.

“We executed our plans perfectly. The bowlers did a great job restricting them, and then the batters backed it up. Mendis and Nissanka set the tone, and we were never under pressure.”

Bangladesh’s skipper Litton Das admitted that they were 15–20 runs short and didn’t capitalize on key moments.

“We needed a stronger finish. Parvez batted well, but we kept losing wickets at regular intervals. We’ll come back stronger in the next match.”

📍 Looking Ahead: 2nd T20I in Dambulla

With the series on the line, the second T20I will be crucial for Bangladesh. Another win for Sri Lanka will give them a clean sweep across all three formats, something they haven’t achieved against Bangladesh in years.

The match is scheduled for July 13 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium and will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV in India, along with FanCode streaming.

🔚 Summary

Result: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets
Series: Sri Lanka lead 1–0 in 3-match T20I series
Top Performers:
- Kusal Mendis – 73* (Player of the Match)
- Pathum Nissanka – 42 off 16
- Parvez Emon – 38 off 22 (Bangladesh)
- Maheesh Theekshana – 2/37