Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead in the three-match One Day International series against Sri Lanka after a commanding six-wicket win in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Wednesday.
Chasing 256 for victory, the Tigers romped to their destination with 32 balls to spare thanks to an unbroken 165-run partnership for the fifth wicket between captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Shanto struck 122 off 129 balls, studded with 13 fours and two sixes, while Mushfiq hammered 73 off 84 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries, as Bangladesh recovered after fall of early wickets.
Openers Liton Das (nought) and Soumya Sarkar (three) and No 4 batter Towhid Hridoy (three) departed in quick succession to leave the hosts 23/3 before Shanto put on 69 for the fourth wicket with Mahmudullah (37).
Mushfiq then joined the Bangladesh skipper at the crease and guided the home side to the target after registering their 49th ODI half-century and third hundred respectively.
Janith Liyanage and Kusal Mendis earlier hit half-centuries to guide Sri Lanka to 255 in 48.5 overs.
Liyanage top-scored with 67 off 69 balls, after Mendis made 59 off 75 balls in Sri Lanka’s roller-coaster innings, after they elected to bat first.
The visitors got off to a rollicking start with Pathum Nissanka (36) and Avishka Fernando (33) in the opening stand.
But pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed three wickets in quick succession to stop their run flow, finishing with 3/44.
Mendis and Charith Asalanka (18) hit 44 runs for the fourth wicket to prevent the collapse.
Liyanage joined Mendis after Mehedi Hasan Miraz dismissed Asalanka to keep the wheel rolling.
Taskin Ahmed ended the promising innings of Mendis, forcing the Sri Lankan captain to give a catch to his Bangladesh counterpart Shanto at mid-off.
Taskin, who finished with 3/60, dismissed Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, but Liyanage ensured Sri Lanka still got a decent score.
Shoriful Islam (3/51) removed Liyanage, before wrapping up Sri Lanka's innings.
The tourists won the preceding Twenty20 series 2-1.
This is the first ODI between the teams since the World Cup last year in India, when Sri Lanka veteran Angelo Mathews became the first player in the 146-year history of international cricket to be dismissed timed out.
1ST ODI
Sri Lanka 255 in 48.5 overs (Liyanage 67, Mendis 59, Tanzim 3/44) lost to Bangladesh 257/4 in 44.4 overs (Shanto 122*, Mushfiq 73*, Madushanka 2/44) by 6 wickets
