The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
We are still trying to catch our breaths a little, here. What an absolute humdinger to start the series off! The momentum swung like a pendulum from here to there and back with every other ball. We would hope that the rest of the series will turn out to be of a similar theme. Sportskeeda will keep you updated with the ball by ball action and more. For now, it's time for me, Darpan Tikiya, and my co-commentator Pragadeesh to say goodbye. Do join us for the second T20I of the series on 6th March 2024 at 5pm. Adios!
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka captain & Player of the match): I am definitely pleased about my performance today. Everyone contributed and did really well. These are short boundaries and there was a lot of dew on the ground so you have to be easy on the bowlers. Want to mention Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama. They had a really good partnership. It gave me the momentum to play that kind of innings.
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Bangladesh Captain) - It was a good match and the boys showed a lot of character. Jaker played a brilliant innings. We didn't execute our plans with the ball and in the next game, we make sure to execute it. I think Mahmudullah's innings was phenomenal along with Jaker.
WHAT A START TO THE SERIES! It was an absolute rollercoaster ride with some steep ups and downs and thrilling bends.
Bangladesh lost 3 wickets in the powerplay. You do not get close to chasing down 200 from that position often in T20 cricket, But Bangladesh had two stupendous knocks that kept them in the game right till the very end. First up, it was Mahmudullah's 31-ball-54 followed by an even more enthralling 68 off 34 from Jaker Ali.
They were further aided by Matheesha Pathirana completely losing his radar. He sent down 11 extra balls (In fact, at this point I am afraid I might have miscounted because there were too many for a 4 over spell).
But in the end, it was Dasun Shanaka who saved the day for Sri Lanka. Bangladesh needed 12 to win off the last over. Shanaka conceded only 8 and also picked up the wicket of Jaker Ali turning the tide into Sri Lanka's favour eventually.
20
overs
203/8score
W
1wd
1
W
4
1lb
1
runs
Taskin Ahmed*
2(2)
Shoriful Islam
4(2)
Dasun Shanaka
2/36
19.6 Dasun Shanaka to Taskin Ahmed, SHANAKA DOES IT! Sri Lanka edge past the nail-biter by three runs. What a wonderful game of cricket. This match had it's ebbs and flows after the halfway stage but Shanaka bowls a brilliant last over to defend 12. Off-pace delivery angling across off, Taskin bends low to swing this wildly but drags it onto his pads. They run across for just a run
That was more in hope than out of conviction. Allowed them a few seconds to calm their nerves down before the final ball. 5 to win off 1 ball.
19.5 Dasun Shanaka to Shoriful Islam, APPEAL FOR LBW...NOT GIVEN! Off-pace delivery on a good length, Shoriful stays deep and swings across the line. Gets hit on the back pad and rolls down to backward point. Sri Lanka takes a review but the impact is well outside off-stump
BANGLADESH ARE STILL IN IT! 200 comes up! 6 to win off 2 balls.