High-flying Sri Lanka emerged as winner against Bangladesh with 20 balls to spare in the first T20 international at Mirpur in Dhaka.
This has been the Lankans' highest chase in T20Is. With this, they have also broken their jinx of 8 consecutive losses in T20Is.
With the outcome of six-wicket defeat, hosts Bangladesh looked to have been annihilated here. They have been pulverised into a tap-out.
But the Lankans were steadfast. Chasing 194, they came out all guns blazing after a quiet first over.
Kusal Mendis registered a quickfire fifty off 25 balls and set the tone for the fireworks later. Then despite a brief spell where the Islanders lost a couple of wickets, the scoring rate refused to stay quiet.
Shanaka and Perera performed the final rites with a thrill-a-minute ride partnership of 65 off 30 balls.
Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts posted 193 for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
This was Bangladesh’s highest score in T20 internationals.
Opener Soumya Sarker gave Bangladesh a flying start and the Tigers raced to 49 in the fourth over.
Debutant Zakir Hasan was dismissed on individual score of 10.
Soumya Sarker and Mushfiqur Rahim continued on the good work and took the team to 100 in 10 overs, before losing Soumya for 51.
Mushfiqur Rahim and T20 captain Mahmudullah and kept on building the innings and eventually dragged the team to the defendable score.
Mushfiqur was the highest scorer with 66 not out (44 balls, 7X4, 1X6) while Soumya scored 51.
Mahmudullah also chipped in with 43 runs.
Kusal Mendis was adjudged Man of the Match for his fluent fifty.
