Formidable Fernando powers Sri Lanka to easy win

---

Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene are delighted at ending the 42-run resistance between Mushfiqur Rahim and Farhad Reza, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, 1st ODI in Colombo Friday. — Photo: Internet

Dilhara Fernando scythed through a brittle top order and, with Farvez Maharoof providing useful support, ensured Sri Lanka sealed a facile win in the first ODI against Bangladesh at Colombo. The visitors' top order flattered to deceive; at 45 for 0 at the end of 11 overs, chasing 235, they were looking good but then came the familiar collapse. Five quick wickets saw them stutter to 63 for 5, a position from which they never recovered, reports Cricinfo.
Earlier, Chamara Silva and Upul Tharanga traded flair for resilience, overcoming a wobbly start in seamer-friendly conditions, before Silva broke free to lift Sri Lanka to a fighting total. Bangladesh would have been in a far better position but for a woeful fielding performance that let them down. Tharanga, who never settled, Kumar Sangakkara, who was in good touch, and Mahela Jayawardene, who tried to counterattack his way out of trouble, were all offered reprieves. But thanks to the bowlers, Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel in particular, Bangladesh had ensured they would be chasing a gettable total.
The equation at the start was simple: 235 runs at 4.68 runs per over. You could either try blazing a start before settling down, or preserve wickets and catch up on the required rate in the middle overs. Bangladesh took the latter route, understandable given the performance of their top order in the Test series.
Both Shahriar Nafees and Tamim Iqbal batted with common sense to see off the new ball. But it was not entirely devoid of strokemaking: Iqbal creamed an overpitched delivery from Lasith Malinga through extra cover while Nafees cut and flicked Maharoof for three boundaries. Sri Lanka were made to think. Malinga resorted to back of length stuff after Tamim hit him for that four. Mistake, for although he choked the runs, he ended up suppressing the strike bowler in him and Jayawardene was quick to replace him with Fernando after just three overs.
However, in the 12th over, things began to go horribly wrong for the visitors. Fernando slanted one across Tamim who had a fatal stab away from the body before trapping Tushar Imran for a duck with a full-pitched delivery. Two wickets in one over and the cat was among the pigeons.
Maharoof, who bowled his full quota at a stretch, removed Shakib Al Hasan with one that angled away before Mohammad Ashraful spontaneously combusted on arrival. He swayed away from two Fernando bouncers before the third, over five deliveries, got him top edging a hook to fine leg. Fernando was not done yet. He got a heavy ball to straighten at Nafees who edged to gully. Farhad Reza and Abdur Razzak indulged in some hit and giggle, tonking six sixes against the spin of Malinga Bandara and Sanath Jayasuriya but it was too little and too late.
It was quite in contrast to the Sri Lankan effort that saw them recover well from an early wobble. Unseasonal showers had drenched the ground on Thursday evening, making conditions difficult for batting. Only eight runs had come in the third Powerplay as Sri Lanka stuttered to 68 for 3 after losing the big three - Jayasuriya, Sangakkara and Jayawardene - at the end of 20 overs. It was then that Silva decided to up the ante. He slapped Razzak through point, swung him over midwicket, before flicking and paddling Reza for boundaries.
Inspired by his partner, Tharanga began to find his range, cutting and pulling short offerings from Razzak and Reza. After Tharanga fell, nicking a drive, Dilshan joined Silva to push the score along. But a double strike - Silva trapped by a Razzak arm ball and Dilshan out slogging Mortaza - allowed Bangladesh to restrict the hosts.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka innings:
Tharanga c Mushfiqur b Farhad Reza 57
ST Jayasuriya b Syed Rasel 21
Sangakkara c Mushfiqur b Mashrafe 16
Jayawardene c Shakib b Syed Rasel 2
LPC Silva lbw b Abdur Razzak 65
Dilshan c Ashraful b Mashrafe 24
J Mubarak not out 22
MF Maharoof not out 16
Extras: (lb 4, w 6, nb 1) 11
Total: (6 wickets; 50 overs) 234
Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Jayasuriya, 7.4 ov), 2-58 (Sangakkara, 12.4 ov), 3-67 (Jayawardene, 17.4 ov), 4-150 (Tharanga, 36.2 ov), 5-190 (Silva, 43.5 ov) and 6-206 (Dilshan, 46.1 ov)
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim c Jayawardene b Fernando 11
Shahriar Nafees c Silva b Fernando 33
Tushar Imran lbw b Fernando 0
Shakib c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0
Ashraful c Maharoof b Fernando 4
Aftab Ahmed lbw b Malinga 16
Mushfiqur c Tharanga b Bandara 28
Farhad Reza c Tharanga b Jayasuriya 28
Mashrafe Mortaza c & b Bandara 6
Abdur Razzak not out 28
Rasel run out (Dilshan/ Sangakkara) 1
Extras: (lb 3, w 5, nb 1) 9
Total: (all out; 40.3 overs) 164
Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Tamim Iqbal, 11.2 ov), 2-46 (Tushar Imran, 11.6 ov), 3-47 (Shakib Al Hasan, 12.3 ov), 4-52 (Mohammad Ashraful, 13.6 ov), 5-56 (Shahriar Nafees, 15.5 ov), 6-76 (Aftab Ahmed, 22.3 ov), 7-118 (Farhad Reza, 30.4 ov), 8-131 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 33.3 ov), 9-148 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 35.6 ov) and 10-164 (Syed Rasel, 40.3 ov)
Toss: Bangladesh, who chose to field first
Series: Sri Lanka lead the 3-match series 1-0
Player of the match: CRD Fernando (Sri Lanka)