DHAKA: Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed four wickets as Bangladesh overcame a late fightback from Wanindu Hasaranga to beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs in the first One-day International on Sunday.
Mehidy returned figures of 4-30 from 10 overs of his off spin to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 224 in the tourists’ chase of 258. Number eight Hasaranga hit a valiant 74 off 60 balls.
Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets with fellow fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin claiming two. Bangladesh went into the game having lost nine of 10 matches across three formats with one draw.
Earlier Mushfiqur Rahim (84) and Mahmudullah Riyad (54) put on 109 runs for the fifth wicket to guide Bangladesh to 257-6 after they opted to bat at the start of the three-match series.
In reply, Sri Lanka were in trouble at 102-6 before Hasaranga put on 47 runs with Dasun Shanaka and then 62 with Isuru Udana for the eighth wicket to revive their hopes.
Saifuddin (2-49) bowled Shanaka for 14 and then claimed the wicket of Hasaranga, who hit three fours and five sixes in his 60-ball knock.
Mustafizur, who finished with figures of 3-34, sent back Udana for 21 on the very next ball.
Sri Lanka suffered a blow before the match as all-rounder Shiran Fernando was ruled out after being tested Covid-19 positive twice in two days.
The match was thrown into uncertainty as fast bowler Udana and bowling coach Chaminda Vaas also tested Covid-19 positive alongside Fernando.
A second test cleared Udana and Vaas of the virus and the match began on time.
Sri Lankan players, who are also involved in pay row with country’s cricket authorities ahead of the series, were led by Kusal Perera.
“Losing isn’t good, but we had a lot of positives. The bowlers bowled in the right directions. Batting wise Wanindu (Hasaranga) did a good job,” said Perera.
The hosts lost opener Liton Das, who edged fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera to second slip in the second over of the game.
Shakib Al Hasan struggled on his comeback match after missing the sides last two international series. He was outfoxed by off-spinner Danushka Gunathilaka for 15.
With Mushfiqur joining skipper Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s innings gained pace but Sri Lanka hit back with a double strike, thanks to off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva.
Silva’s yorker got the better of Tamim (52), who reviewed the decision in vain. The spinner also had Mohammad Mithun leg before wicket after the batsman tried to play a paddle sweep. Mithun also failed to overturn the decision.
Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah played with caution and aggression to dominate the Sri Lanka bowlers.
Mushfiqur looked set to bring up his century but was out to a reverse-sweep shot off left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan. The wicketkeeper-batsman hit four fours and one six in his knock.
Bangladesh then relied on Mahmudullah for some death-over carnage but he was deceived by de Silva’s flight.
De Silva took 3-45 while Chameera, Gunathilaka and Sandakan picked up one wicket apiece.
Mehidy opened the bowling and gave Bangladesh the early edge, removing Gunathilaka with a return catch for 21 and later took the prized wicket of captain Kusal Perera for 30. He dismissed de Silva for his 50th wicket before the left-arm spin of Shakib and fast bowler Mustafizur ripped through the middle order.
“Winning is happiness. Boys are really happy. We hope we can put on a better show next time,” said Bangladesh captain Tamim.
The second match will be held at the same ground on Tuesday.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH:
Tamim Iqbal c de Silva b Chameera 52
Liton Das c Nissanka b Gunathilaka 0
Shakib Al Hasan c Nissanka b Gunathilaka 15
Mushfiqur Rahim c Udana b Sandakan 84
Mohammad Mithun lbw b de Silva 0
Mahmudullah Riyad b de Silva 54
Afif Hossain not out 27
Mohammad Saifuddin not out 13
EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-2, W-9) 12
TOTAL (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 257
DID NOT BAT: Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-43, 3-99, 4-99, 5-208, 6-230.
BOWLING: Udana 10-1-64-0 (4w), Chameera 8-0-39-1 (1w), De Silva
10-0-45-3 (1w, 1nb), Gunathilaka 2-0-5-1, Hasaranga 10-0-48-0 (2w), Sandakan 10-0-55-1 (1w, 1nb).
SRI LANKA:
D. Gunathilaka c and b Mehidy 21
K. Perera b Mehidy 30
P. Nissanka c Afif b Mustafizur 8
K. Mendis c Mehidy b Shakib 24
D. De Silva b Mehidy 9
A. Bandara b Mehidy 3
D. Shanaka b Saifuddin 14
W. Hasaranga c Afif b Saifuddin 74
I. Udana c Mehidy b Mustafizur 21
L. Sandakan not out 8
D. Chameera c Saifuddin b Mustafizur 5
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-3) 7
TOTAL (all out, 48.1 overs) 224
FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-41, 3-82, 4-94, 5-97, 6-102, 7-149, 8-211, 9-211.
BOWLING: Mehidy 10-2-30-4, Taskin 9-0-62-0 (1w), Mustafizur 9-0-34-3 (2w), Saifuddin 10-0-49-2, Shakib 10-0-44-1, Mahmudullah 0.1-0-1-0.
TOSS: Bangladesh.
RESULT: Bangladesh won by 33 runs.
SERIES: Bangladesh lead the three-match series 1-0.
UMPIRES: Masudur Rahmna and Sharfuddoula (both Bangladesh).
TV UMPIRE: Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh).
MATCH REFEREE: Neeyamur Rashid (Bangladesh).
