Alesha Mart Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka ODI Series 
1st Match Played on 23 May 2021 at SBNCS , Meerpur Dhaka 

Brief Scorecard at Innings Break 
Bangladesh 257/6 ( Mushfiqur Rahim 84, Mahmudullah Riad 54, Tamim Iqbal 52, Afiff Hossain 27* , Dhanajya de Silva 3/45)       

Mushfique and Mahmudullah playing true to their reputations gave Bangladesh a fighting chance of winning the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Batting first Bangladesh scored 257/6 on a wicket gripping and turning. Bangladesh with much superior and more experienced bowling attack should defend. Off course Sri Lanka is a young team of some quality batsmen. They are not completely out of the match. 

Coming to bat together at a critical stage of the innings 99/4 two veterans of Bangladesh batting Mr. Dependable Mushfique and Silent Killer Mahmudullah steered Bangladesh from a stage of uncertainty to a zone of safety. The 5th wicket partnership producing 109 paved the way for Bangladesh producing a defendable score of   257/6.

On a hot and humid day new look Sri Lanka asked to field on losing the toss bowled exceedingly well to a plan at the early stage of the innings. But two M’s batting brilliantly not only salvaged the innings but also from them It needs to be seen how Bangladeshi bowlers and fielders act to defend whatever their batsmen could earn for them. 

The weather in Dhaka is very hot with cyclone on its way. Winning the toss in the   day night matches at Meerpur advantages the team to bat and later bowl and field in cooler condition in the evening. Tamim was lucky with the coin. But Bangladesh was not so lucky at the early stage of the innings. Liton was gone in the very second over without scoring. Chameera bowled fast on the corridor and moved away from Liton forcing him to edge to slip. Shakib coming at number three looked rusty. Lankan bowlers bowled tight. Shakib after struggling for 34 deliveries got out scoring 19. Bangladesh was 43/2 in the 13th over.

Two of the most experienced Bangladeshi batsmen started slowly set their roots with deft touch and rotation of strikes. Tamim started playing some strokes and Mushfique kept on placing his pushes into the gaps. However, Lankan spinners kept bowling tight. Kushal rotated his bowlers smartly. Tamim after reaching his 50 appeared to loose his cool. Trying to manufacture stroke against Dhananjaya he was trapped right in front scoring 52. Immediately after his fall Mithun attempted a strange lap shot getting out for a duck. Bangladesh slumped for 4/99. 

Two past masters Mushfique (86) and Mahmudullah playing brilliantly salvaged Bangladesh from a hole to a much comfortable position with a almost a run a ball 109 partnership. Mushfique playing wonderfully well fell playing a reverse sweep scoring 84. The feature of the partnership was continuously rotating the strike and playing occasional glorious strokes.  Mushfique got out to his favorite shot reverse sweep. Youngster Afif joining Mahmudullah struggled a bit at the start but once he connected few he looked confident. Unfortunately, Mahmudullah got out trying to step up scoring rate after scoring 54.

Credit must be given to Sri Lanka. The bowled and fielded exceptionally well. Kushal Perera marshaled his resources skillfully.  The wicket is gripping and turning. If Bangladesh can take some early wickets they should win.

BDST: 1736 HRS, MAY 23, 2021
SMS