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Kusal Mendis and Nissanka Dominate as Bangladesh Falls Short in Pursuit of 155
Kusal Mendis and Nissanka Dominate as Bangladesh Falls Short in Pursuit of 155
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: Pathum Nissanka scored a 16-ball 42, where his partner Kusal Mendis smashed 73 with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets in 1st T20I.
Sri Lanka stormed to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first T20I at Pallekele. All credit goes to a great start from openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Chasing 155, the duo launched a stunning assault in the PowerPlay, combining for 78 runs in just 4.3 overs and helping Sri Lanka post their highest-ever PowerPlay score in T20Is 83/1 in six overs.
Nissanka set the tone with three boundaries in the opening over off Mohammad Saifuddin, while Mendis punished Taskin Ahmed with two fours and a six in his first over. The carnage continued as Nissanka smashed Tanzim Hasan Sakib for 6, 4, 4, and Mendis followed up with two more sixes and a boundary off Taskin. Nissanka eventually fell for a fiery 42 off 16 balls, but the damage was done.
Mendis slowed down slightly but remained composed, reaching his fifty in 31 balls and anchoring the chase with a well-crafted 73 off 51. Kusal Perera chipped in with 24, and Charith Asalanka finished the job with a six over long-on, sealing the win with an over to spare.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 154/5 after being put in to bat. Parvez Hossain Emon gave them a brisk start with 38 off 22, but the innings lost momentum in the middle overs. Litton Das struggled for timing and was dismissed for 6, while Emon and Towhid Hridoy fell in quick succession. Mohammad Naim (32* off 29) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (29 off 23) stitched a 46-run stand to push the total past 150, and Shamim Hossain added a late flourish with 14* off 5.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers laid the foundation for the win, with Dasun Shanaka and Jeffrey Vandersay keeping things tight in the middle overs. Maheesh Theekshana picked up two wickets, including the key scalp of Emon.