Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh T20 International played at R Premadasa Stadium Colombo.

Sri Lanka 158/4 (MDKJ Pererra 77*, WU Tharanga 24, Mashrafee 2/32) beat Bangladesh 155/6 (Mosaddeq 34* ,Mahmudullah 31, Soumya 29, Malinga 2/38) by 6 wickets.

Player of The Match: Kusal Pererra
Formidable Lankan Lions overwhelmed hamstrungand bewildered Bengal tigers by 6 wickets in the first of the two matches T20 series at R Premadasa stadium Colombo yesterday. Batting first hesitant Bangladesh struggling to absorb the shocking reality of sudden T 20 international retirement announcement of their charismatic iconic captain Mashrafee posted a moderate 155 for 6 in allotted overs. Sri Lanka riding on a very cultured 77 of 53 balls by talented Kusal Pererra overhauled the target with 7 balls to spare.

As told above two persons featured in the match yesterday. Mashrafee the enigmatic role model of Bangladesh cricket playing his penultimate T20 international was haed and shoulder above his younger bowling mates demonstrated his usual control and wit with the ball. On the other hand, Kusal Perra returning to the team after getting axed from the team in South Africa batted his team to victory through a matured unbeaten knock.

Players come and players go. But Mashrafee to Bangladesh is so special. From a very ordinary position he has led Bangladesh to formidable team in ODI cricket playing exceptionally well and inspiring a contingent of quality cricketers. His departure would definitely hurt Bangladesh Cricket. Mashrafee does not play test cricket. His emotional announcement of T20 retirement at toss does not however say whether he will continue playing and leading Bangladesh in ODI . No player has so far dared playing international cricket with 7 major surgery in his legs. Even yesterday he was by far the best bowler of his team matching other great Lasith Malinga. To several members of the team especially the younger ones Taskin, Mustafiz , debutant Saifuddin Mashrafee is the role model.. It was not sure what happened behind the scene. To us it did not appear usual way a hero departs He could have chosen his home ground for announcing this. He was hurried to it many observed.

Srilanka fielded a very strong team studded with several hard hitting batsmen and competent impact players. They have very good recent T20 records winning series against South Africa and Australia on tours.. T20 on the other hand is not the forte of Bangladesh.Still after competitive test and ODI series much better was expected in T20 first match.

Mashrafee won the toss and in rain threatening situation surprisingly elected to bat. When the innings started after a passing shower it got a rude shock with Majestic Malinga bowling an excellent first over. His rocking in swinging yorker knocked out Taimim and he could get two more wickets in the fisrt over when Soumya and Shabbir both escaped narrowly. But Soumya Shabbir savagely counter attacked Lankan bowlers racing to 57 by the sixth over. But a sudden rush of blood caused Shabbir making fundamental mistake in running singles. The momentum was lost. Soumya and Mushfique played two suicidal strokes. Bangladesh slumped from 57/1 to 70/4 in no time..Even Shakib could not sizzle. At 5/82 Bangladesh was looking down the barrel. Two accomplished batsmen veteran Mahmuddulah and young Mosaddeq aptly carried the repair works with a quality  57 runs seventh wicket partnership before Malinga again unleashed an unplayable Yorker removing well set Mahmudullah.. Bangladesh could reach 155/6 which many thought 25-30 runs short for challenging the very strong batting line up. Quality Lankan bowling and fielding did the damage control well after scorching Soumya Shabbir blitz.

Sri Lanka in reply counter punched with vengeance after Mahmudullah bowling a tight first over. Taskin, Mustafiz ,Shakib whoever came to the attack were taken to the cleaners. Only exception as usual was Mahrafee who remained unruffled.Whil;e others including young legs leaked runs he maintained control and grabbed the wickets of Tharnga and Munaweera . Gunaratne was run out. A very expensive Taskin took 1/33 in his 2.5 overs . Bangladesh must take lesson from the high quality matured batting of Kusal Perrera a cold blooded killing operation. His unbeaten 77 of 53 deliveries contained nine strikes across the fence and one over it. Sri Lanka w=cruised to 6 wickets win and look set for a series white wash. It will extremely difficult to bring Bangladesh back in the hunt as emotion would prevail in Mashrafee farewell match. May be Bangladesh may gift him a match win who knows.

BDST: 1140 HRS, APR 05, 2017
EHJ