Easy win for Bangladesh with Shanto's century

Sports Desk: Lahiru Kumara was coming to bowl the last ball of the over. Nazmul Hossain Shanto took off the helmet by pulling four times with the cover. He raised his hand to celebrate. Such a celebration befits him after a brilliant, first and match-winning century as captain.

In the beginning, the regular wickets brought by the bowlers, later to deal with the batting disaster, Shanto brought victory to the team in a great partnership with Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by () wickets in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday. Batting at the start, the visitors were bowled out for 255 runs.

Bangladesh got the win in 44 overs 4 balls after being under a bit of pressure in the run chase. Sri Lanka got off to a great start after winning the toss and batting. Two openers Pathum Nishanka and Aviska Fernando were playing with open arms.

However, Bangladesh got a break through before the end of the power play. Tanzim Hasan Shakib came in to bowl his second over and took Aviska's wicket. Tanjim was pitching the ball outside the off stump. The batter had to play away from the body. With such a ball Aviskar touched the bat and took an easy catch in the hands of wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Aviska scored 33 runs off 33 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Tanjim Shakib was unstoppable, dismissing two more batters in his next two overs to spoil Sri Lanka's early relief.

Nishanka scored 36 runs off 28 balls with 5 fours and 1 six to pool Tanjim. But his timing was not right. Caught by Soumya Sarkar standing near third slip. Mushfiq took a great catch of Sadira Samaravikrama who scored 3 runs from 5 balls in Tanjim's third over. In the first spell, Tanjim took three wickets with only 22 runs in 5 overs. Sri Lanka is in danger after losing three wickets within 13 runs. Their run speed also decreases.

Charith Ashalanka, who scored 18 runs off 37 balls, was bowled by Mehdi Hasan Miraj. Later, Kushal Mendis took the lead with Zenith Liang. Taskin Ahmed broke their partnership of 69 runs from 68 balls. Kushal Mendis took a catch at mid-off while picking up Taskin's length ball. He scored 59 runs off 75 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. However, on the other end, Zanith survives.

Although he scored a half century, he could not finish the innings. He scored 67 runs off 69 balls and caught behind the wicket. Earlier, Taskin reduced the fear of Sri Lanka scoring big runs at the end by returning Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Thiksena. Bangladesh, however, ended the innings with discomfort. Tanjim took three wickets with 44 runs in 8 overs 4 balls, Taskin who got three wickets gave 60 runs in 10 overs, Shariful also took three wickets.

However, Bangladesh did not get off to a good start in the run chase. Liton Das was bowled on the first ball of Madushankar's innings and returned to the dugout. Madushanka also dismissed Soumya Sarkar in his next over. He scored 3 runs off 9 balls before taking an easy catch at square leg. Tawheed also turned his heart a little. He was bowled by Pramod Madusan after scoring 3 runs off 8 balls.

Losing three wickets for 23 runs, the fear of defeat was filled in the beginning for Bangladesh. But captain Nazmul Hossain, who came down to play at number three, was calm and in a cool mood. Shanta led the team to victory by making two big pairs. First, Shanto made a partnership of 69 runs from 62 balls with Mahmudullah Riyad. When Mahmudullah returned, the pair that had been saved from danger broke up. Riyad was dismissed by Kumara, who scored 37 runs off 37 balls after being caught by Madushanka. But he continued to play quietly.

New partner Mushfiqur Rahim also got on the run in a big way, hitting a half-century. cool? He scored his first century as a captain on this day. He has previously led all three formats in two World Cup matches, home-and-away against New Zealand. However, before the Sri Lanka series, Shanto was officially made the captain for one year. The pressure, the struggle to keep runs on the scoreboard, the need to stay on the wicket and build pairs; He got this century by handling everything well. This is his third century in ODIs overall.

By the end, his century was on the way to victory. Mushfiqur Rahim's partnership with Shanta has brought the team to the port of victory.