It looks a surface on the dryer side, so, I'm a bit surprised that Sri Lanka decided to bowl first! But the first six overs will definitely set the tone for both the teams. Otherwise, it is decent batting pitch.
VENUE STATS
1st Innings
172Avg Runs
6Avg Wkts
143.71Avg
SR
2nd Innings
153Avg Runs
7Avg Wkts
137.45Avg
SR
Weather Update
Weather Update
Kandy,Sri Lanka
Updated: 10 Jul 22:00
26°CClouds
65%
Clouds
0%
Rain %
4.7 kmph
Wind
Playing XILineups Out
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The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
10:25 PM local time, 10:25 PM IST: So that does it from Pallekele for now as the action shifts to Dambulla on the 13th of July for the 2nd T20I. Will we see Sri Lanka seal the series there or will Bangladesh level things up? Let's see. As for now, this is the pair of Pradeep and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda!
Charith Asalanka [Sri Lanka captain]: "I thought chasing would be a better option keeping the last LPL in mind and also, with the faster outfield and short boundaries. Jeffrey Vandersay is always there for us, whenever he gets a chance, he makes it count. I think that it was very much a complete game for us. It was a good run chase, because the new ball was good to face, but once it got older, it got tougher to score."
Litton Das [Bangladesh captain]: "We were spot on with the bat, the wicket was pretty good. Whenever they bowled, few kept low and second half it did the same as well. It was disappointing, we have to take responsibility, the batters have to bat long after they get the start. I thought 170 would've been good on this track, we have a good bowling line-up. Taskin is our main bowler, any cricketer will have a bad day. Rishad bowled well, on that track, if you bowl on the right areas, it's difficult."
Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Match for his phenomenal innings of 73 off 51 balls! Here's what he has to say: "Back to back hundreds in ODI's, thanks to Pathum, he started well and I was able to get on board too. Wicket became slow, but with the start we got, we had time to play the deliveries. I played my natural game at the start, I wanted to finish the game and batted all the way. Thanks to the crowd for turning in up in big numbers."
10:08 PM local time, 10:08 PM IST: Sri Lanka win by 7 wickets with an over to spare!
Sri Lanka scored 83 runs in the first 6 overs - their highest ever power play score in T20Is! And that was that! That was good enough to bring the match their way.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis destroyed whoever came on to bowl. Pace, spin, away from the body, on the pads, good length, full length, anything. It just kept disappearing! Yes, Bangladesh did help them with a few loose deliveries, but they took those with both hands to cash in on them!
Pathum Nissanka went on to become the highest run-scorer among opening batters for Sri Lanka in T20Is. Kusal Mendis went on to score an impressive half-century but unfortunately for him, could not quite finish it off. One has to laud Bangladesh for taking the innings deep though! They managed to stretch the essay to the end of the 19th over.
But that was due to the kind of start the hosts had! They could afford taking it slightly easy and keep ticking the scoreboard over. Sure, Kusal Perera was not at his fluent best tonight, but still, things were under their control.
As for the visitors, Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled decently. Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled a few skiddy balls to take the batters by surprise and Shamim Hossain Patwari took a breathtaking catch to give Mohammad Saifuddin a wicket.
But, as we come to the end of the Pallekele-leg of the tour, it is Litton Das' Bangladesh who have a lot to think about, if they want to level the series in Dambulla.
19
overs
159/3score
1
0
0
1
1
6
runs
Charith Asalanka*
8(5)
Avishka Fernando
11(17)
Tanzim Hasan Sakib
0/34
18.6 Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, SIX! GAME, SET AND MATCH! Asalanka finishes things in style, and takes his team over the line as Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in the series! It's a comprehensive win in the end for Sri Lanka after a rollicking start from their openers. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Asalanka launches it straight down the ground and comfortably clears the ropes for a maximum.
18.5 Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, full toss on the stumps, Avishka taps it down to long-on for another single.
18.4 Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, yorker length on leg-stump, Asalanka clipped it into the on-side, takes a quick single.
18.3 Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, OH! That keeps low, back of a length, angling across. Asalanka has a big swing across the line and misses.
Nice bowling!
18.2 Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Charith Asalanka, OH! Sharp bumper, well directed. Asalanka goes ducking under it, through to the keeper.
18.1 Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Avishka Fernando, length delivery on middle and off. Avishka clipped it to long-on for one. Just four needed now!
Tanzim Hasan Sakib [3.0-0-25-0] comes back into the attack.
The 150 comes up for Sri Lanka. In a way, we can say that Bangladesh have done well to take this match so deep. Can they take it to the last over now?
18
overs
150/3score
1
W
1
0
0
1
runs
Avishka Fernando*
9(15)
Charith Asalanka
1(1)
Mohammad Saifuddin
1/22
17.6 Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, full on off-stump, Avishka drilled it to mid-off and took off. Puts in a despairing dive in the end, fielder misses to hit the stumps.
17.5 Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, length delivery on the pads. Avishka can't get it away, clipped it straight to short mid-wicket.
17.4 Mohammad Saifuddin to Avishka Fernando, back of a length on off-stump, Avishka right behind it and defends.
One big hit away are Sri Lanka!
17.3 Mohammad Saifuddin to Charith Asalanka, back of a length outside the off-stump, Asalanka slapped it through cover point for one and off the mark too.
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Charith Asalanka
*
Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Video
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