Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 1st T20I 2025 Match Report
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 1st T20I: Lions Maul Tigers in Pallekele
Series
Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka, 2025
Match
1st T20I
Venue
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy [3]
Date
July 10, 2025 [3]
Sri Lanka kicked off the T20I series against Bangladesh with a resounding 7-wicket victory at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. [4] Chasing a modest target of 155, the Sri Lankan opening pair of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka unleashed a blistering attack that effectively sealed the fate of the match within the powerplay. [6] This win gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, continuing their dominance after securing both the Test and ODI series earlier in the tour. [5, 10]
Toss and Team Selections: Sri Lanka Opts to Chase
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bowl first, a decision that proved to be astute. [3, 5] The Pallekele pitch has a reputation for being conducive to batting, but the Sri Lankan skipper backed his bowlers to restrict the visitors to a manageable total. Both teams made some changes from their ODI squads, with Sri Lanka bringing in specialists for the shortest format of the game.
Bangladesh’s Innings: A Tale of Starts Without a Flourish
The Bangladeshi innings was a stop-start affair, with several batsmen getting starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Parvez Hossain Emon was the most aggressive of the lot, scoring a brisk 38 off 22 balls, including five fours and a six. [2] However, his dismissal in the 7th over, caught in the deep off Maheesh Theekshana, was a sign of things to come for the visitors. [2]
Litton Das, the Bangladeshi captain for the T20I series, had a brief stay at the crease, falling for just 6 runs to a sharp delivery from Jeffrey Vandersay. [2] Mohammad Naim anchored one end for a while, finishing with an unbeaten 32, but his strike rate of just over 110 was not what Bangladesh needed. [2] Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided some late impetus with a 23-ball 29, but a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack, particularly in the death overs, kept the scoring rate in check. [2, 5]
Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, claiming two crucial wickets. [5] Jeffrey Vandersay was also impressive, with an economical spell of 1 for 25 in his four overs. [2] The Sri Lankan pacers used the variations in pace effectively on a slightly sluggish wicket, making it difficult for the Bangladeshi batsmen to find their rhythm. Ultimately, Bangladesh could only muster 154 for 5 in their 20 overs, a total that felt under-par on a good batting surface. [6]
Key Performers: Bangladesh
- Parvez Hossain Emon: 38 (22)
- Mohammad Naim: 32* (29)
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz: 29 (23)
Sri Lanka’s Chase: A Blistering Start Seals the Deal
In response, Sri Lanka’s intentions were clear from the very first over. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis came out all guns blazing, launching a stunning assault on the Bangladeshi bowlers. Nissanka was particularly destructive, smashing 42 runs off just 16 deliveries in an innings that included five fours and three sixes. [2, 6] By the time he was dismissed, caught by Rishad Hossain off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sri Lanka had already raced to 78 in the first 5 overs, all but ending Bangladesh’s hopes of a comeback. [2, 6]
Kusal Mendis played a more composed but equally impactful innings, anchoring the chase with a sublime 73 off 51 balls. [2, 5] He brought up his half-century in just 31 balls and ensured that there were no hiccups after the fall of Nissanka’s wicket. [6] Though a couple of more wickets fell, the result was never in doubt. Charith Asalanka hit the winning runs as Sri Lanka comfortably chased down the target with an over to spare, finishing on 159 for 3. [5, 6]
Key Performers: Sri Lanka
- Kusal Mendis: 73 (51)
- Pathum Nissanka: 42 (16)
Turning Point of the Match
The turning point of the match was undoubtedly the explosive opening partnership between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Their 78-run stand in the first five overs completely demoralized the Bangladeshi bowling attack. [6] Taskin Ahmed, one of Bangladesh’s premier bowlers, had a particularly tough day at the office, conceding 43 runs in his three overs. [2] This initial onslaught meant that Sri Lanka was always well ahead of the required run rate, allowing the subsequent batsmen to play without any pressure.
Post-Match Reactions
After the match, Bangladesh captain Litton Das lamented his team’s batting performance, stating, “I don’t think the toss was crucial, but we didn’t get many runs. A couple of balls stayed low and it did so in the second half as well. It’s not just today’s game, last 7-8 matches, I think the batters who’re in have to take responsibilty. 170 would have been a good score with our bowlers”. [6]
Looking Ahead
With this comprehensive victory, Sri Lanka has laid down a strong marker for the rest of the T20I series. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly and come up with a better plan, especially with the bat, if they are to challenge the confident Sri Lankan side in the remaining two matches. The second T20I will be played in Dambulla, and it promises to be another exciting contest as Bangladesh fights to stay in the series. [6]
Detailed Scorecard
Bangladesh Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parvez Hossain Emon | c Dasun Shanaka b Maheesh Theekshana | 38 | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| Tanzid Hasan | c Maheesh Theekshana b Nuwan Thushara | 16 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Litton Das (c & wk) | lbw b Jeffrey Vandersay | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammad Naim | not out | 32 | 29 | 1 | 1 |
| Tawhid Hridoy | c Kusal Mendis b Dasun Shanaka | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | c Charith Asalanka b Maheesh Theekshana | 29 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| Shamim Hossain | not out | 14 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 154/5 (20 Overs) | ||||
Sri Lanka Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Jeffrey Vandersay | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
Sri Lanka Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Rishad Hossain b Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 42 | 16 | 5 | 3 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | c Shamim Hossain b Mohammad Saifuddin | 73 | 51 | 5 | 3 |
| Kusal Perera | c Litton Das b Rishad Hossain | 24 | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| Avishka Fernando | not out | 11 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Charith Asalanka (c) | not out | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 159/3 (19 Overs) | ||||
Bangladesh Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Saifuddin | 3 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Taskin Ahmed | 3 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| Tanzim Hasan Sakib | 4 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Rishad Hossain | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 |