In their first pre-ODI World Cup match in Guwahati,
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka with ease thanks to half-centuries from their top
three batsmen, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
In addition to the problems that these statistics
highlight, Sri Lanka will be concerned about their opener Kusal Perera, who
left the pitch in the 10th over of their innings with a soreness in his right
shoulder. Bangladesh knocked Sri Lanka out for 263 and chased it down with
eight overs remaining. Before retiring injured, he hit 34 out of 24.
Apart from the outcome, Bangladesh would have been
happy with Tanzid as he acclimates to the international stage. Tanzid made his
debut during the Asia Cup in August and has only played five ODIs so far. His
easygoing 84 off 88 balls, which included ten fours and two sixes, blunted an
ineffective Sri Lankan attack. His 131-run opening stand with Litton, who
scored 61 runs off 124 balls, provided a solid foundation for the squad to
chase down Sri Lanka’s 263. Mehidy, the game’s skipper for Bangladesh, followed
the heroics of the openers with an undefeated 67. Additionally, he had bowled
10 tight overs, recording 1 for 32.
When Sri Lanka decided to play, they made a good
start, adding 104 runs together with Perera and Kusal Mendis before losing
their first wicket in the 15th over. While Dhananjaya de Silva hit 55 at No. 6
and Nissanka top-scored with an aggressive 68, much of the middle order failed
to get going, and offspinner Mahedi Hasan took 3 for 36 in his nine overs. To
finish off Sri Lanka in the final over, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam,
Nasum Ahmed, and Mehidy all contributed with one wicket each.
On Monday, Bangladesh will play their subsequent
exhibition match against England, and on Tuesday, Sri Lanka will take on
Afghanistan. The same location will host both games.