By Bangladesh Takes 1-0 Lead in ODI Series with Strong Performance
After losing the T20I series, Bangladesh started the ODI series on a positive note, winning the opening game in Chattogram comfortably.
The foundation for their victory was laid by the bowlers, who restricted Sri Lanka to just 255. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain then led from the front with an unbeaten century to guide his team to victory with 32 balls to spare.
Despite the dew making conditions favorable for batting, Bangladesh had a shaky start, losing three early wickets. However, a crucial 165-run partnership between Najmul Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim, who remained unbeaten, rescued Bangladesh from a precarious position.
Before their partnership, Bangladesh’s pacers had made early inroads into the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Tanzim Hasan Sakib dismissed both openers to put the visitors on the back foot. Although Sri Lanka recovered with a partnership between Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyanage, they failed to capitalize on their starts, allowing Bangladesh to restrict them to 255.
Chasing the target, Bangladesh made good use of the dew as Najmul Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim anchored the innings with composed batting. Despite a brief partnership with Mahmudullah, it was the stand with Rahim that guided Bangladesh to victory.
Sri Lanka’s innings ended with the lower order collapsing under pressure from Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed, who picked up wickets at regular intervals.
The comfortable win gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 255 all out (Janith Liyanage 67, Kusal Mendis 59; Tanzim Hasan 3-44) lost to Bangladesh 257/4 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 122, Mushfiqur Rahim 73) by 6 wickets.
