Bangladesh players had only themselves to blame after they displayed some immature cricket to succumb under pressure and gift Sri Lanka a 13-run victory in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
After roping the Lankans to 180 the home side had the worst possible start to their run-chase losing Anamul Haque, who poked at a ball outside off-stump to second slip, in the second delivery to Lasith Malinga. However, Shamsur Rahman and Mominul Haque steadied the ship and brought Bangladesh back on course for a comprehensive win.
The left and right-handed combination of Mominul and Shamsur put on 79 and were impressive in their approach. They took their time and settled in before staging some glorious cuts and drives on both sides of the field.
Mominul on 44 off 52 looked more in song with already stroking seven fours, but his powerful square cut off Thisara Perera went straight to point, denying him a fifty. However, Shamsur did not hold back and after two back to back fours off Malinga in the 16th over, he struck two sixes in the next over to land his fifty.
Shamsur was opening up and was middling the ball very nicely as even his miss-hits fetched him boundaries. He skied one over mid-off, which landed in a no-man zone, and an easy two however cost his wicket in a very controversial call from the third umpire. While grounding the bat, it got stuck before the crease and even though it was not clear whether his foot was in air when Kumar Sangakkara dislodged the bells, Anisur Rahman gave the decision in favour of the visitors.
At 114 for three, Bangladesh were still the favourites but what happened next was beyond expectation of the home fans. Shakib al Hasan (3) fell to an unnecessary run-out while Nasir Hossain (8), Mahmudullah (0) and Sohag Gazi (6) also returned cheaply as Mushfiqur Rahim could only stand and watch from the other end.
Pressure was creeping on the captain and he too rather than trying to stick till the last ball fancied an innovative shot. He was the ninth wicket to fall trying to move past the off-stump and scoop Angelo Mathews which ended as an easy catch behind the wicket.
With 18 runs away from victory it was only a matter of time for the Sri Lankans to wrap it up and another silly calling between Rubel Hossain and debutant Al Amin Hossain resulted in a run-out, ending Bangladesh’s hope on 167.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss in the 43-over curtailed game and did everything right to enjoy the upper hand until they lost focus. Tamim Iqbal (neck sprain) and Mashrafe bin Mortaza (ankle) were sidelined with injuries, but Rubel and Al Amin gave the perfect start to the Tigers by claiming the top three visiting batsmen Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sangakkara inside 10 overs.
The Tigers were on a roll as Shakib trapped debutant Priyanjan leg-before with an arm delivery before a terrific fielding effort in covers saw him run-out the Sri Lankan vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal. Arafat Sunny, on debut, bagged his maiden wicket when he cleaned up Matthews followed by the wicket of Nuwan Kulasekara.
Even a “fielder” Mushfiq was on his toes as his direct hit dismissed Kithuruwan Vithanage leaving the islanders reeling on 67/8.
Sunny could have had his third victim, but Gazi dropped Thisara on the long-on boundary which literally opened the flood gates. Thisara, the only recognised batsman left, smashed some lusty blows while the Bangladesh fielding standard also dropped immensely. He later survived two more catches to Nasir Hossain and Shakib while No. 10 Sachithra Senanayake was also dropped by Mahmudullah at slips. Thisara, man of the match, remained unbeaten on 80 as the pair added 82 runs for the ninth wicket which took Sri Lanka to 180, a score they successfully defended.