Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka – first T20 cricket match
All our updates as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the first T20 match in Sylhet.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in a thrilling start to their T20 series in Sylhet, Bangladesh on Monday, March 4, 2024:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in a thrilling start to their T20 series in Sylhet, Bangladesh on Monday, March 4, 2024:
- Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by three runs in a thriller in the first Twenty20 international of their three-match series.
- Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga is missing the first two matches due to a disciplinary suspension, but his replacement, Charith Asalanka, is named Player of the Match for his 44 from 21 balls.
- Bangladesh finished on 203-8 after a brilliant 68 from 34 balls by Jaker Ali threatened to turn the match late in the chase.
- Bangladesh are still without Shakib Al Hasan as he recovers from an eye condition that has kept him out of action.
- The two South Asian teams resume their heated cricket rivalry about three months before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Goodbye for now
That’s it from our live coverage of the first T20 international of the three-match series on Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh.
We couldn’t have asked for a better start than that, and we hope you enjoyed all our build-up and team news.
The live action from Al Jazeera isn’t finished for the day, with Sheffield United against Arsenal kicking off at 20:00 GMT in football’s Premier League.
We’ll be back with more cricket for the second match of the series on Wednesday.
For now, though – from this page, and from me, Kevin Hand – it’s goodbye.
The remainder of the tour
The second and third T20 matches will be held on March 6 and 9, both also at Sylhet.
Sri Lanka, which arrived in Bangladesh on Thursday, will also play three one-day internationals and two Tests during the month long tour.
Asalanka named Player of the Match
Looks like the officials agreed that the Sri Lanka captain’s strike rate was decisive in the opening match.
Jaker Ali’s strike rate was an impressive 200 for his 68, but fell just short of the opposition skipper’s cameo.
Asalanka retained the best strike rate
Charith Asalanka retained the best strike rate of the match, and that was perhaps the fine margin that edged the victory for the Sri Lankans.
A captain’s knock!
Charith Asalanka explodes with 6 sixes in his unbeaten 44-run knock! 🔥 #BANvSL pic.twitter.com/jUutF7hPxN
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 4, 2024
Heartbreak for Bangladesh
That was an incredible fightback from the hosts.
What a way to start the series.
Jaker Ali top scores but ends up on the losing side.
There were 409 runs in the match – where do we begin to pick through that?
Sri Lanka win by three runs!
Taskin Ahmed can only find a single off the last ball as he stabs at a wide yorker, and Sri Lanka win a thriller to start the series.
Five to win off the last ball
Shoriful Islam can only find a leg bye off the penultimate ball and it’s over to Taskin Ahmed to hit a six to win it.
Six to win off two
Shoriful Islam hits his first ball over extra cover for four.
WICKET! Jaker goes! Bangladesh 197-8
Sri Lanka have the big wicket as Dasun Shanaka picks up Jaker Ali for 68 off 34 balls.
The right-hander hits straight to Charith Asalanka at long-off.
A wide and a single
Dasun Shanaka serves up a wide and then Taskin Ahmed finds a single.
Ten to win from four.
WICKET! Rishad is out! Bangladesh 195-7
Rishad Hossain hits the ball straight to Charith Asalanka at mid-off and falls to Dasun Shanaka for a second-ball duck.
Five balls to go and Jaker Ali is at the wrong end.
19 overs. Bangladesh 195-5
Jaker Ali gets the last ball of the over away for another boundary as he clears extra cover.
It’s 12 to win off the final over, and 15 runs were just conceded off the 19th.
Pathirana is onto the pads again and four more
Jaker Ali works the ball fine, and it’s 16 to win from nine balls.
Pathirana’s woes continue
A low full toss is put away for four off the second ball of the 19th over – and it’s called a no ball.
Jaker Ali takes two from the free hit.
Twenty needed from 10.
18 overs. Bangladesh 180-6
A dot ball ends the over. Rishad Hossain is the new batter.
WICKET! Mahedi is out! Bangladesh 180-6
Mahedi Hasan top-edges, and his cameo comes to an end on 16 from 11.
He had just cut the previous ball from Binura Fernando for four.
A boundary to begin
Mahedi Hasan gets in on the act as he pulls the first ball of Binura Fernando’s over for four.
Thirty-three needed off 17 balls.
17 overs. Bangladesh 170-5
Matheesha Pathirana returns to his feet but is sent soaring for another six as Jaker Ali works the ball over deep square.
Consecutive wides and then a four finish the over.
That over was painful for more reasons than just the injury for Pathirana.
The last ball was overpitched, and Jaker drove through the cover.
Nineteen were scored off the 11-ball over, and only 37 are required off 18 now.
Pathirana goes down
There have been three wides and only two legitimate deliveries in this over, and now the bowler is down injured.
Pathirana offers a helping hand
Matheesha Pathirana concedes a single off the first ball of the 17th and then serves up two wides.
A single for Mahedi Hasan follows to bring Jaker Ali back on to strike with 42 to his name from 21 balls.
Another wide follows, and there’s still four balls to go in the over.
16 overs. Bangladesh 150-5
Jaker Ali keeps finding a six to keep Bangladesh in this.
Maheesh Theekshana offers a little too much length, and the right-hander smears the ball over midwicket.
He also takes a single next ball to end the over and keep the strike.
Fifty-six needed from 24 balls.
15 overs. Bangladesh 139-5
Dasun Shanaka drops short the ball after the full toss that was sent for six.
This one goes for six as well off a pull by Jaker Ali.
Six more!
Dasun Shanaka bowls the 15th over and, after conceding three singles to begin, is thumped for six over deep square.
It’s Jaker Ali who benefits from another full toss to swing the ball away.
14 overs. Bangladesh 124-5
Jaker Ali finishes the over with a six as he picks up a full toss on his pads to clear the leg-side boundary.
WICKET! Mahmudullah falls! Bangladesh 116-5
Binura Fernando picks up the wicket as Mahmudullah hits a lofted drive straight to long-on to fall for 54 from 31 balls.