Mendis stars as Sri Lanka outplay Bangladesh for T20 series lead

Bangladesh's middle-order falters before bowlers put up a subpar show

Sri Lanka outplayed Bangladesh with both bat and ball to coast to a crushing seven-wicket win in the first T20 of the three-match series in Pallekele.

Set 155 to win, the hosts breezed to their target with an over to spare, powered by Kusal Mendis’s 73 off 51 balls, as Bangladesh’s underwhelming bowling followed an equally disappointing batting effort at the Pallekele.

After losing the toss, Bangladesh made a bright start thanks to Parvez Hossain Emon, who struck 38 off 22 balls with five fours and a six.

The powerplay brought 54 for 1, despite an early exit for Tanzid Hasan (16 off 17). But the momentum quickly evaporated, with two long boundary droughts, 27 and 28 balls, stalling the innings.

None of the middle-order batters managed to shift gears.

Returning after nearly three years, Mohammad Naim played a scratchy 32* off 29 balls at four, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with 29 from 23.

A late cameo from Shamim Hossain (14* off 5) helped Bangladesh past 150, closing on 154 for 5.

Sri Lanka’s chase was virtually sealed in the powerplay.

Pathum Nissanka, playing his first T20 in 14 months, began with three consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Saifuddin and raced to 42 off 16 balls with five fours and three sixes before holing out to long-on off Miraz.

He and Mendis put on 78 in just 28 balls, leaving Bangladesh chasing shadows.

The scoring slowed after Nissanka’s dismissal, with Mendis and Kusal Perera (24 off 25) playing conservatively.

Their second-wicket stand of 42 came off 49 balls.

Mendis reached his 16th T20I fifty, his seventh against Bangladesh, with three fours and three sixes. He was eventually dismissed for 73, brilliantly caught by Shamim at deep midwicket, but by then Sri Lanka were on the cusp of victory.

Charith Asalanka (8*) and Avishka Fernando (11*) saw them home at 159 for 3 in the 19th over.

For Bangladesh, only Rishad Hossain, Miraz, and Saifuddin managed a wicket each.

Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib went wicketless and expensive.

Mendis was named Player of the Match.