Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Stats Review: Asalanka's masterclass batting display, Shanaka's brilliant bowling and other stats

An all-round batting display from the Sri Lankan batters, followed by superb bowling from the duo of Matthews and Shanaka, secured Sri Lanka a nail-biting victory by just three runs in the first T20I against their rivals, Bangladesh.

Earlier in the game, sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka faced an early setback when Avishka Fernando fell in the very first over to a brilliant delivery from Shoriful Islam, while Kamindu Mendis departed after a fluent 19. However, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama steadied the innings with a 97-run partnership for the third wicket, displaying elegant stroke-play as both notched up half-centuries.

The innings was further bolstered by skipper Asalanka's solid unbeaten cameo of 44 runs, guiding the visitors to a competitive total of 206 in their allotted 20 overs.

In pursuit of 207, Bangladesh stumbled early as Litton Das departed for a duck, caught behind off Angelo Mathews. Despite Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, and Mahedi Hasan forming crucial partnerships, the top-order collapse left them struggling at 68/4.

Mahmudullah's well-crafted 54 and Ali's aggressive 68 off 34 balls took Bangladesh close, but dew played a role as Sri Lankan bowlers lost control, with Pathirana conceding 10 wides and three no-balls. Ali's onslaught left Bangladesh needing 12 runs off the final six balls. However, Shanaka held his nerve, taking two wickets and defending the target brilliantly, guiding Sri Lanka to a thrilling victory.

Meanwhile, Let us Look at the stats and numbers from the 1^st T20I between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka:

13 -Kusal Mendis completed his 13^th T20I fifty. He is now joint with Tilekaratne Dilshan for most T20I fifties by Sri Lankan Opener.

8 -Kusal Mendis completed his eighth T20I fifty as a wicketkeeper, the joint most by Sri Lankan wicket-keeper in T20I. He shares the spot along with Kumar Sangakkara.

6 -Charith Asalanka smashed six maximums in his innings, the joint most by a Sri Lankan captain in a single T20I innings, sharing his spot with Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka

206 -Sri Lanka scored 206 runs in this game, this is their second-highest score against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. Highest scores of 210 came in 2018.

7 – Mahmudullah completed his seventh fifty in T20Is. He’s now joint third with Tamim Iqbal for the most number of fifties by Bangladesh batter in T20Is. Shakib Al Hasan tops the list with 12 followed by Litton Das with 10.

6 - Jaker Ali’s six maximums in the innings is the most by a Bangladesh batter in a T20I innings.

56 -Pathirana’s 56-run spell in this game is the second joint-expensive T20 spell against Bangladesh, sharing the spot with Oshane Thomas. Mpofu conceded 58 runs in Mirpur in 2020.