DAMBULLA, Saturday – Bangladesh for long the minnows of international cricket once again proved what a force they are turning out to be when they beat Sri Lanka by 90 runs in the first one-day international played under lights at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It was a fitting win to coincide with their 46th day of Independence which falls today.
Bangladesh’s win was spearheaded by opener Tamim Iqbal who batted for 48 overs in compiling his eighth one-day hundred and second against Sri Lanka.
Tamim named Man of the Match hit 15 fours and a six in his well-paced out innings of 129 scored off 142 balls that helped his side to their highest as ever one-day total against Sri Lanka – 324-5 and their third highest overall after being invited to bat first.
Previously Bangladesh had never gone past 265-9 against Sri Lanka made at Mohali in 2006 in an ICC Champions trophy game.
Sri Lanka’s reply was stifled by Danushka Gunathilaka’s third ball duck and although Dinesh Chandimal scored 59 off 70 balls they never gave the slightest hint that they had the run chase under their control as Bangladesh kept on picking up wickets constantly not allowing the Lankans to build up any big partnerships that would enable them to get closer to the target.
The highest partnership Sri Lanka managed to put together was 56 by Chandimal and Asela Gunaratne (24).
Sri Lanka eventually totaled a disappointing 234 and without the batting power of Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dickwella they clearly didn’t’ have the depth to dig deep into their reserves to turn this run chase into a successful one.
Thisara Perera staged a late rally bludgeoning two sixes and four fours scoring 55 off 35 balls but it was in a lost cause.
Sri Lanka paid dearly for their lop-sided selection of not including a specialist off-spinner in their side when two left-handers Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan shared a record fourth wicket partnership of 144 off 142 balls that lay the base for Bangladesh’s final total.
That stand erased the previous highest of 139 by Sri Lankan pair Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga at Kolkata in the Asia Cup in 1990.
Tamim and Shakib came together when Bangladesh had lost the wickets of Sabbir Rahman (54 off 56 balls, 10 fours) and Mushfiqur Rahim (1) off four balls and were 120-3 in the 23rd over. While Tamim played the sheet anchor role and kept one end secure, Shakib smashed 72 off 71 balls inclusive of four fours and one six.
In fact Bangladesh in the 30 power play overs where only four fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle Sri Lanka conceded 151 runs, a larger share of which was taken up by the partnership between Tamim and Shakib.
Sri Lanka’s outfield and catching left much to be desired with several misfields that went for boundaries and Sabbir and Tamim given ‘lives’ at 42 and 121 respectively.
The pitch became sluggish as the day wore by and it brought to question Sri Lanka’s wisdom to invite Bangladesh to bat first when it had some life in it for the batsmen.