Upul Tharanga is frustrated with Sri Lanka’s performance

On Saturday, opener Tamim Iqbal made a terrific century to set up a crushing 90-run win for Bangladesh in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Tamim scored 127 off 142 balls while Sair Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan added two more fifties, as Bangladesh posted an imposing 324/5, which is also their highest ever score against Sri Lanka, going past 265/9 in 2006.

The hosts were never up to the mark, being derailed very early in the chase after captain Mashrafe Mortaza struck in the first over following which ODI debutant Mehedi Hasan had Sri Lanka struggling at 15/2 inside six overs. They were eventually bowled out for 234 runs in 45.1 overs to register their fifth loss against Bangladesh. The hosts are now trail 0-1 in a three-match series.

Following the hefty defeat, Sri Lankan captain Upal Tharanga urged to make improvement in every department of the game. The post Jayawardene-Sangakkara era of Sri Lankan batting has been losing the sharpness and bowlers also haven’t been able to deliver consistently good, match-winning performances.

Tharanga said, “I think we were controlling the match up to the mid-innings of Bangladesh batting but could not continue after that. Bowlers failed in their job and the fielder also did not do anything good in the field. We had provided Bangladesh at least 25 to 30 extra runs. We must improve in all three departments of the game for the next match.”

Highlighting the disgraceful batting failure of the team, he said, “A long innings must have been played by some of us. We lost three wickets in first 10 overs. On Saturday, we, actually could do nothing to chase a 300 run target.”

The second match of the series will be held at the same venue on Tuesday, and this time around, Sri Lanka will be desperate to bounce back.