Asalanka Secures Player of the Match with Century

COLOMBO: Charith Asalanka’s pivotal century, combined with a strong showing from the spin bowlers, propelled Sri Lanka to a convincing 77-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka’s captain, Asalanka, elected to bat first, a decision that proved fruitful as his team reached a total of 244 before being bowled out in 49.2 overs.

The innings began poorly for the hosts, with Taskin Ahmed’s early strikes leaving them at 29/3 in 6.1 overs.

Asalanka then partnered with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, initiating a recovery with a 60-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Tanvir Islam disrupted the partnership in the 19th over, dismissing Kusal lbw for 45, which included six boundaries and a six.

Asalanka further built the innings with Janith Liyanage (29), Milan Rathnayake, and Wanindu Hasaranga (22 each), before reaching his century in the 48th over.

The left-handed batsman was eventually dismissed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib on the first ball of the final over, but not before guiding Sri Lanka to a competitive score.

He was the leading scorer for the hosts, with 106 runs from 123 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes.

Charith Asalanka was named Player of the Match for his match-winning performance.

Taskin was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler, claiming four wickets for 47 runs in 10 overs, while Sakib took three, and Tanvir and Najmul Hossain Shanto secured one each.

In their chase of 245, Bangladesh were all out for 167 in 35.5 overs, despite half-centuries from Tanzid Hasan and Jaker Ali, resulting in a significant defeat.

The visitors had a troubling start, with Parvez Hossain Emon falling to Asitha Fernando in the fifth over with the score at 29.

Following this, Najmul Hossain Shanto joined Tanzid, adding 79 runs together. This important partnership ended when Shanto was run out in the 17th over, having scored 23 from 26 balls.

His dismissal triggered a collapse, with Bangladesh losing seven more wickets, including Tanzid, for just 25 runs in 67 balls.

The left-handed opener, Tanzid, scored 62 off 61 balls, including 10 boundaries and a six.

After the collapse, Jaker Ali put up a fight with a half-century, partnering with Mustafizur Rahman for a 42-run stand for the 10th wicket.

Jaker was eventually dismissed lbw by Hasaranga in the 36th over for 51 from 64 balls, which included four fours and four sixes.

Hasaranga was the leading bowler for Sri Lanka with four wickets, while Kamindu Mendis took three. Maheesh Theekshana and Fernando each claimed one wicket.

Sri Lanka now lead the three-match series 1-0, with the second ODI scheduled for Saturday at the same venue.