Soumya departs as Bangladesh keep the score ticking
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are facing-off each other at the same venue where the Tigers leveled a two-T20 series with a win last year. After that match, Bangladesh ODI captain retired from the shortest form of international cricket and the team has not won another T20I ever since.
Winning the toss today, Bangladesh decided to bowl first. The men led by Mahmudullah will be desperate for a win after a string of disappointing performance recently, whereas a confident Sri Lanka will look forward to maintaining their winning streak in the format.
Just when Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka were becoming too dangerous for the bowling side, Mustafiz bowled the latter out to give Bangladesh a breakthrough. The opener made 26 off 19.
However, Mendis picked up a magnificent half-century and returned to the pavilion making 57 runs as Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah got him out, the same bowler then dismissed Dasun Shanaka for a duck. Before Sri Lanka could resist the collapse, Taskin bagged Dinesh Chandimal's wicket.
Meanwhile, Mendis clubbed a fifty and made 74 runs from 48 balls. Mustafiz scalped his wicket as the batsman got caught behind. Upul Tharanga's unbeaten cameo of 32 off 15 lifted the total past 200. Jeevan Mendis was also not out scoring 6 runs.
With their score of 214, Sri Lanka broke a 6-year old record at the R.Premadasa Stadium. Until now, the highest score at this ground was 205 runs posted by West Indies against Australia in 2012 ICC World T20 semi-final. Sri Lanka have now set a new record by overcoming the previous one.
In reply, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das gave Bangladesh a good start by stitching a 74-run opening partnership. Liton got out scoring 43 as Nuwan Pradeep trapped him lbw. Following his departure, Tamim was out caught and bowled by Thisara Perera on 47 runs.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Soumya Sarkar then stood firm and kept the score ticking. Soumya could not manage to score more than 24 runs before Pradeep took his wicket.
Mushfiq is still on the crease eyeing a positive outcome for the Tigers.
Score:
SL - 214/6 (20 overs)
Ban - 151/3 (after 14.2 overs)
Bangladesh need 64 runs in 34 balls
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal(w/c), Upul Tharanga, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah(c), Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Islam
