Thisara Perera steals the win for Sri Lanka – 1st ODI vs. Bangladesh

Sri Lanka 180 (Thisara Perera 80*, Sachithra Senanayake 30, Shakib Al Hasan 2-29) beat Bangladesh 167 (Shamsur Rahman 62, Mominul Haque 44, Angelo Mathews 3-21) by 13 runs.

A heroic unbeaten fifty plus score from Thisara Perera and the professionalism of the Lankan Lions snatched another close win of the tour against Bangladesh.

The match was restricted to 43 overs due to rain and the Islanders scored 180 in 40 overs whereas the Bengal Tigers surrendered for 167 with 22 balls to spare.

Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his excellent unbeaten innings of 80 off 57 mere deliveries.

The first One Day International of the three match series was played on Monday, February 17, 2014, at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.

Thisara Perera - A match winning unbeaten knock of 80
Thisara Perera – A match winning unbeaten knock of 80

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss for the home side and invited the visitors to bat first. Kusal Perera started off briskly whereas Tillakaratne Dilshan departed for three. Perera became the next victim at 28 and Kumar Sangakkara was run out for 13 when the rival bowlers took over the game. The Sri Lankan team was reeling at 8-67 in 21.3 overs when Thisara Perera and Sachithra Senanayake got together in the middle. The first initiated his innings by plundering 23 runs in the 23rd over with 3 giant sixes and 1 four. The pair was dropped by the hosts a few times and Perera dispatched his third ODI fifty on the 40th ball. Senanayake was gone at 149 for 30, Thisara Perera secured his end for 80 off just 57 with 6 mighty sixes and 4 fours as the tourists were bowled out for 180.

Rubel Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan and Arafat Sunny were the main wicket takers with two each whereas Al-Amin Hossain and Sohag Gazi shared one wicket each.

Bangladesh lost their first wicket at zero when Shamsur Rahman and Mominul Haque associated in the park. They steadied the innings according to the situation and enhanced the score to 79 in 14.4 overs. The latter went back to the pavilion at that point for 44 and was replaced by Mushfiqur Rahim. Shamsur Rahman smashed his second ODI half century with a couple of sixes in the 17th over but was unluckily run out for 62 off 49 balls with 3 lofty sixes and 5 fours. Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed at 119 for 27 and that was the start of the disaster for the home side. The wickets started crumbling regularly and the entire innings of the Bangladeshi side was rolled back for 167 in 39.2 overs.

Angelo Mathews was the main wicket taker with three, Sachithra Senanayake got two whereas Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera held one each.

Sri Lanka won a sensational encounter by a margin of 13 runs and leads the series at 1-0.


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