Tigers beat Sri Lanka by six wickets

FE DESK | Published: March 14, 2024 00:18:18

Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Wednesday. He scored an unbeaten 122 runs. — AFP

Bangladesh won the first of a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka that got going Wednesday in the port city of Chattagram, as young skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a spectacular ton with unbeaten 122 runs.
The hosts beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Shanto scored 122 runs 0ff 129 balls. Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim also played an important innings. He scored 73 (84).
Earlier, Janith Liyanage and Kusal Mendis hit half-centuries to guide Sri Lanka to 255 in 48.5 overs, in the first one-day international of a three-match series against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Liyanage top-scored with 67 off 69 balls, after Mendis made 59 off 75 balls in Sri Lanka's roller-coaster innings, after they elected to bat first.
The visitors got off to a rollicking start with Pathum Nissanka (36) and Avishka Fernando (33) in the opening stand.
But pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed three wickets in quick succession to stop their run flow, finishing with 3-44.
Mendis and Charith Asalanka (18) hit 44 runs for the fourth wicket to prevent the collapse.
Liyanage joined Mendis after Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Asalanka to keep the wheel rolling.
Taskin Ahmed ended the promising innings of Mendis, forcing the Sri Lankan captain to give a catch to his Bangladesh counterpart Najmul Hossain Shanto at mid-off.