Kusal, Nissanka easily dispatch Bangladesh in T20I series opener
But it was the SL bowling that laid the groundwork with Shanaka and Vandersay applying the squeeze
But it was the SL bowling that laid the groundwork with Shanaka and Vandersay applying the squeeze
Scorer: Thilak R | Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya
And with that it's a wrap from us. The next game will be on the Sunday evening, as the action moves to Dambulla. Be sure to join us for that, but until then, on behalf of Fidel and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing off!
Charith Asalanka: "{Why bowl first?] When we were playing in the LPL, chasing teams one because of the fast outfield and generally one shorter boundary. That's why we decided to bowl first. [Depth?] Vandersay is with us in the bench mostly because of Wanindu, that's the reality. But he got his chance today. It's a good headache, that I like to have in my team. [areas to improve] Not much in this game. I thought it was quite a complete game for us, every department did well. I just want to keep improving in the fielding. [finish the game earlier?] The pitch was decent but once the ball got older it started sticking in the pitch."
Litton Das: "The wicket looked pretty good, but a couple of balls kept low. We're very disappointed. Whoever batted well, needed to keep going. I thought it was a pretty good wicket to defend a chase on, we have a good bowling side. But we didn't bowl well, but any cricketer can have that bad day. [Rishad] He bowled really well. In this kind of wicket if you bowl the right area, it's more difficult for the batters to adjust."
Player of the Match goes to Kusal Mendis for his 73 off 51: "The wicket was a little bit slow, took some turn. That's why I slowed down later. But I played my natural game earlier, and I just wanted to see the game out. [crowd?] It's one of the biggest crowds I've seen in Kandy, thank you so much for supporting us."
10.16pm Time for the post-match presentation.
Mayukha: "What a purple patch KM is in! And what a start by Pathum. "
Santy : "Nice and eazy"
Sahan: "Strike rates of the SL openers vs others is a stark contrast!"
10.08pm So Sri Lanka win with just 6 balls to spare, but the result was never in doubt after Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka's opening stand. The pair put on 78 in just 28 balls as Sri Lanka ransacked 83 runs in the powerplay. It meant that the rest of the batters had to take absolutely minimal risk, on a surface that in truth was definitely not as easy to bat on as Nissanka and Mendis made it look. Bangladesh didn't bowl particularly well either, though credit to Mendis and Nissanka for never letting anyone settle. Mendis fell just before the finish line, but al it did was allow him a deserved ovation of his own. The Lankan bowlers, meanwhile, understood the nature of the pitch and kept taking the pace off. After Emon's early burst, the middle order struggled, and only some late strikes from Shamim pushed the total past 150 - a score that was always going to be a struggle to defend.
Just 4 away now...
Damian : "@Muzhaid, to give this massive crowd time to enjoy the party and have fun. "
But it was the SL bowling that laid the groundwork with Shanaka and Vandersay applying the squeeze
He averages 18.16 in his last 12 T20Is and was dropped from the ODI side after the first game in Colombo
Both teams have not been in great form in the format in recent times