Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Match Highlights & Results

Right then, Sri Lanka win back-to-back in Pallekele, one being the series-clinching win in the final ODI, and now a lead-taking win in the first T20I. Next up, we move to Dambulla for the 2nd T20I, where Bangladesh will be looking to bounce back and level the series against a buoyant Lankan team. That game will be played on Sunday, 13 July and will begin at 1.30 pm GMT. However, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Charith Asalanka, the Sri Lankan captain, starts by saying that he decided to bowl first, given the history. He says that in the LPL, chasing sides won a lot of games batting second and with the fast outfields and shorter boundary dimensions, it’s easier to chase. On Jeffrey Vandersay's performance, he says he is there on the bench most of the time, because of Hasaranga, and hence credit to him to deliver in the absence of Hasaranga. He adds that it’s a good headache for him and the team to have two quality leg spinners. He finishes off by saying it was a complete game for them and maybe they would look to improve on their fielding.

Litton Das, the Bangladesh skipper, says that the toss didn't matter much and the wicket did look but a few balls were keeping low. Adds that it has been a feature of the last 7-8 games that they are losing wickets rather than building big partnerships. Reckons that they have a good bowling side and they were under-par and even someone like Taskin can have an off day. Goes on to applaud Rishad Hosain for the way he bowled.

Kusal Mendis is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning knock. He starts by saying that Bangladesh did well to get to 150. He felt their batting innings started really well as Pathum Nissanka got off to a flyer, and it helped him to get going. He adds that the wicket was slow and took some turn later on, so after getting off to a flyer, he slowed down a bit in the middle overs. Ends by applauding the crowd that came to watch the game in large numbers.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to field first, unlike the ODI series, where he batted first in the game played here. However, it was a rollicking start from the Bangladeshi openers with Parvez Hossain Emon looking in devastating touch. But once Nuwan Thushara got the first breakthrough, it all started to slow down gradually for Bangladesh. The Lankan bowlers used the slower ball effectively and the spinners were tough to get away. Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz fought hard for Bangladesh and they just about managed to get over the 150-run mark.

Bangladesh seemed down and out for the count but the Mehidy Hasan Miraz and then the introduction of Rishad Hossain started to pull things back. Wickets also came and the Lankans couldn't find the fence but 83 runs in the Powerplay, that was the telling factor as the hosts were always well ahead and riding high on Kusal Mendis' 73 off 51 balls, they managed to get over the line with an over to spare.

155 is what Sri Lanka needed for the win but they began the Powerplay as if they were chasing a total in excess of 200. Pathum Nissanka and especially Kusal Mendis bludgeoned the ball to all parts of the ground and added 78 runs in just 4.4 overs when Nissanka got out. Things looked well in control in the first half of the chase but it all started to slow down.

Sri Lanka start the T20I series exactly from where they left off in the final ODI game and on 'poya day,' a public holiday in Sri Lanka and in front of a jam-packed Pallekele crowd, the hosts have taken a 1-0 lead in the T20I series. Bangladesh have a lot to ponder upon after an underwhelming showing here.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, Six!SIX! Sri Lanka go 1-0 in the 3-match series! That's a shot and a half and a worthy hit to finish off the game! Slower full ball moving away on middle, Charith Asalanka stands still in his crease and tonks this one way over long on for a biggie. SRI LANKA WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Full toss on off, pushed down to long on for a single.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Full on middle leg, almost a yorker. Asalanka digs it out as he plays the flick onto his pads and towards short mid-wicket. Singl taken.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, No run.Full slower delivery moving away, outside off, Asalanka is already through the slog as he is deceived by this slower delivery.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, No run.Short ball aimed at the body, Asalanka ducks under it as he lets this one go.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Fullish ball on middle, Fernando flicks this one wide of short mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Full on off, Fernando drives this to mid off and sets off for a quick single. The mid off fielder fires in a throw at the non-striker's end and misses as Fernando eventually gets home safely. Oh, a direct hit would have been interesting.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, No run.Full on middle, Avishka flicks this one to short mid-wicket.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, No run.Length ball on off, Avishka defends it right under his eyes.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Back of a length. well outside off, Asalanka cuts it square of the wicket for a single.

Charith Asalanka is in next.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Mendis, OUT! c Shamim Hossain b Mohammad Saifuddin.OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, what a catch! Shamim Hossain has plucked this out of thin air! Kusal Mendis's superb knock comes to an end! Mohammad Saifuddin bowls this one on full, on middle leg, Mendis is early in his flick as the ball takes the leading edge of his bat and goes wide of short cover, who runs to his left and jumps in the air to his left, with the left hand fully stretching. The ball sticks in his hand. Oh, this is a fine, fine catch!

Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Back of a length off cutter on middle, Fernando shuffles across and works it down to deep fine leg for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, No run.Short and turning away, well outside off, Mendis looks to play the cut and misses.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs.From round the wicket, a low full toss on off, Mendis sweeps this one in the gap between long on and deep mid-wicket for two runs.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, Four!FOUR! Nicely done! Slower through the air, shorter in length, googly, outside off, Mendis sitting deep in his crease plays the late cut fine of the short third fielder who runs to his left but can't get to the ball. The ball eventually evades him and runs down to the deep third fence for four.

Rishad Hossain to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.A touch short on off, Fernando cuts it along the ground to the right of deep point for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Overpitched on off, Mendis leans forward and drives this to the left of long off for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Short length googly, on middle, Fernando punches it off the back foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Taskin Ahmed to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs.Overpitched on off, Mendis drives this one wide of mid off who runs to his left but misfields the ball as it goes through his legs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib is the culprit. The batters come back for two till the time Sakib runs behind the ball and cuts it off.

Taskin Ahmed to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Length on middle, Fernando flicks it along the ground to deep fine leg for a single.

Taskin Ahmed to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Slower bouncer on off, Mendis plays the upper cut on the bounce to deep third man for a single.

Taskin Ahmed to Kusal Mendis, No run.Full on off, Mendis crunches the drive to the left of mid off who makes a good stop.

Taskin Ahmed to Kusal Mendis, Four!FOUR! Easy pickings! Back of the hand, slower one that lands on back of length and sliding down leg, Mendis goes a touch deep in his crease and plays the pick up over short fine leg for a one bounce four.

Taskin Ahmed to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Length ball on leg, Avishka shuffles a bit and flicks it to the right of short cover for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, No run.Just 3 off this over and now, Sri Lanka need 26 off 30 balls. Is there still hope for Bangladesh? Flighted ball on middle, drifts in, Kusal Mendis leans on to push but gets a leading edge well in front of mid off.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, No run.A tad bit short and outside off, Mendis backs away and taps it down to point.

Rishad Hossain to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Slow and into the pitch around off, this one sticks in the deck. Avishka Fernando hops back and tucks it away wide of long on for just one more.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Full and drifting onto the stumps, Mendis lunges and pushes it down to long off for one more.

Rishad Hossain to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Tossed up outside off, hit away wide of long off for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Avishka Fernando, No run.Very full and outside off, it is the googly, Avishka plays it back to the bowler.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs.Lovely shot! Full and on off, Kusal Mendis leans on and shows the full face of the bat, driving it back past the bowler. The fielder at mid off dives to his right but is beaten but the fielder at long on is able to mop it up. Two taken.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Banged in short and outside off, Fernando reaches out and ramps it fine of deep third but the fielder is quick to get across to his left and keeps it down to a single

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, No run.Back of a length and around off, angling in, Avishka Fernando gets inside the line and flicks it to mid-wicket.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, No run.Good-length delivery, darted into middle and off, Fernando watchfully blocks it off.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Banged in well short around off, slower too, Mendis gets on top of the bounce and hits the pull down through square leg for a single.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs.Length ball wide of the off stump, Kusal Mendis leans into the drive and hits it well in front of sweeper cover for a couple of runs.

Rishad Hossain to Avishka Fernando, No run.Fuller in length and outside off, driven straight to covers.

Avishka Fernando is the new batter in.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, OUT! c Litton Das b Rishad Hossain.OUT! CAUGHT! Rishad Hossain picks up a wicket but probably just a consolation one. Rishad loops it up nicely and gets the ball above the eyeliner of the batter. The ball pitches on off but dips and is the googly as well. Kusal Perera goes down to sweep and doesn't pick the googly, ending up getting a top edge that comes down near the short mid-wicket region. The keeper, Litton Das calls for it and takes it with ease.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, No run.Floated up around middle, blocked back to the bowler.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, No run.Flatter ball outside off, Perera brings out the reverse sweep but misses. It was the googly that just turned away from the bat.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Shortish length on off, Mendis shovels the pull towards deep mid-wicket and rotates the striker once again.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Tossed up, outside off, Kusal Perera gets down on one knee and swats the slog sweep along the turf to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Good length around midle and leg, Perera looks to block but the ball nips in and takes the inside edge. The ball gets deflected off the pads to short third and they get a single. The scoring rate has slowed down in the last 2 overs but Sri Lanka are well ahead in the game, needing 37 off 48 balls.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.A slower bouncer outside off, Mendis waits and taps it away down to deep third for yet another single.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Short ball over middle and leg, Kusal Perera pulls it a bit uppishly and down to long leg for one more.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.A low full toss now on off, drilled down through mid off for a single.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, No run.Good length around off, Mendis looks to play at it but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Kusal Mendis, No run.Slower and into the pitch, bowled at around just 90 kph and well outside off. Kusal Mendis has to really reach for it and just about manages to tap it to short extra cover.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Nicely played and that will be FIFTY for Kusal Mendis, his 16th in T20Is and he's got there in just 31 balls. Flatter and angled across off, Mendis stays back and angles it away behind point for a single. He gets a warm applause from the crowd and the dug out as well.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, 1 run.On the shorter side and on middle, Kusal Perera rocks back to pull but doesn't time it quite well. The ball goes to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Fuller and quicker around leg, flicked away to deep backward square leg for a single.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, No run.Excellent bowling and Kusal Mendis is getting bogged down here after a thunderous start. Flighted again, around middle, Mendis blocks it with a lunge again.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, No run.Flighted ball on middle and leg, nagging length as well, Mendis lunges and clips it across to mid-wicket.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, No run.Flatter from around the wicket, angled across off. Mendis backs away and cuts it straight to covers.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Short and on leg, Mendis pulls it behind square along the ground for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Mendis, No run.Short length leg-break on off, Mendis moves away and guides it to backward point.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Short and well outside off, Perera cuts it to deep point for a single.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, Four!FOUR! Poor bowling from Rishad Hossain! Short and on leg, Perera shuffles across and laps this one behind the wickets fine of deep fine leg for four.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, No run.Tossed up on off, Perera hangs back and defends it back to the bowler.

Rishad Hossain to Kusal Perera, Four!FOUR! Cheeky! Tossed up around off, Perera makes some room and plays the late cut wide of first slip and fine of short third for a boundary.

Finally, Rishad Hossain does come into the attack.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Bowled from wide of the crease, fuller on middle, Perera looks to defend off the front foot and gets an inside edge that goes wide of short mid-wicket. Single taken.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, No run.Tossed up, around off, Perera leans and plays a push to backward point.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, No run.Flat and quick from Mehidy, on middle, Perera punches it straight to cover-point.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, No run.Flighted delivery on off, Perera steers it with an open face to backward point.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, No run.Tossed up around off, Perera pushes it to point.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.100 up for Sri Lanka in just the 9th Over! Tossed up on leg, Mendis works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shamim Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Short of a length, Mendis rocks back and plays a short-arm jab wide of deep mid-wicket. This time the fielder covers it well and keeps it down to a single.

Shamim Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs.Excellent running! At the stumps, Kusal Mendis works it away towards deep mid-wicket and gets it in front of the man in the deep and just races back for the second run.

Shamim Hossain to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Quick and flat, fired in towards middle and leg, Perera stsya back and dabs it away through mid-wicket for a single.

Shamim Hossain to Kusal Perera, Six!SIX! Tossed up on off, Perera gets down on one knee, switches over and plays the revers sweeps over backward point for a maximum.

Shamim Hossain to Kusal Perera, No run.Tossed up, outside off, Perera pushes it off the back foot to point.

Shamim Hossain to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Short on leg. Mendis pulls it behind square for a single. Oh, that one landed just short of Rishad Hossain in the deep.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.A touch short on middle, Mendis rocks back and plays the pull along the ground to the left of deep mid-wicket for a single to keep the strike.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, No run.Full on middle leg. Flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Short and on off, Perera rocks back and cuts it in front of square to deep extra cover for a single.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Tossed up on middle. Kusal Mendis flicks it into the gap wide of short mid-wicket for a single.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs.Short and on off, Mendis cuts it behind square to the left of deep point for two runs.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Mendis, No run.From round the wicket, short delivery on off, Mendis pushes it to short cover.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Good length on middle, Mendis flicks it to square leg for a single.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Perera, 1 run.A low full toss on middle, Perera chips it in the air over short mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.On a length and around off, Mendis flicks it to square leg for a single.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Perera, 1 run.Full and around off, Kusal Perera goes for the drive off the front foot and gets an inside edge that goes behind the stumps. Kusal Mendis gives a quick call for a single and sets off. Keeper, too, runs quickly towards the ball and fires in a throw at the striker's end but misses. Kusal Mendis nonetheless would have gotten home.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Perera, No run.Back of a length, seaming away, outside off, Perera goes for the pull and hits it off the toe end as the ball goes rolling along the ground to short mid-wicket.

Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Mendis, 1 run.Length ball pulled along the ground to the right of long on for a single.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, No run.Nicely flighted, around off again, Perera leans on and makes another block.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Kusal Perera, No run.Tossed up around off, Kusal Perera defends it off.

Kusal Perera joins Kusal Mendis at the crease now.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, OUT! c Rishad Hossain b Mehidy Hasan Miraz.OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, a rare false stroke and Mehidy Hasan Miraz gets the breakthrough for Bangladesh. Comes around the wicket and slides the ball across the off stump. Pathum Nissanka sits down and looks to get under it and swings across the line. Nissanka ends up slicing it high up and in front of mid on. Rishad Hossain comes charging in from the edge of the ring and slides to to take the catch.