Hiran Hewavisenti in FACEBOOK,, 3 July 2025
What a show
The skipper leads from the front, has a cool head and makes all the right moves with his timely bowling changes.
The skipper leads from the front, has a cool head and makes all the right moves with his timely bowling changes.
The former captain has a hot head and weaves his magic when we need it most. His persona energises others on the field, not to mention the fans!
And then there was our rising star – the batting all-rounder who chipped in with the ball, along with unbelievable catching like we haven’t seen before.
Phew, indeed. Sri Lanka certainly can
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ALSO NOTE …. Mohammad Isam in ESPNcricinfo, Jule 2025
Sri Lanka 244 (Asalanka 106, Mendis 45, Taskin 4-47, Tanzim 3-46) beat Bangladesh 167 (Tanzid 62, Jaker 51, Hasaranga 4-10, Kamindu 3-19) by 77 runs
In a matter of 15 minutes, Bangladesh‘s batting unfurled in an ugly collapse, one of the worst in ODI history, handing Sri Lanka a 77-run win in the first ODI. Bangladesh slipped from 100 for 1 to 105 for 8 in the space of 20 deliveries. Those were the fewest runs added from the fall of the second wicket to the eighth.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Kamindu Mendis engineered the collapse. They are essentially three bowlers in two as Kamindu bowls both left-arm orthodox and right-arm offbreak. There were no real demons in the Khettarama pitch, though there was one in the outfield. Hasaranga and Kamindu took three wickets each, but credit should also go to Sri Lanka’s fielding. Milan Rathnayake’s superb throw and Janith Liyanage’s diving catch sparked Bangladesh’s collapse.
Sri Lanka had earlier made 244 in 49.2 overs, courtesy of their captain Charith Asalanka anchoring the innings. The left-hander struck his fifth ODI century, second as the Sri Lanka captain. Bangladesh had their moments too, with Taskin Ahmed, returning after an ankle injury, taking four wickets.
Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto got Bangladesh to a fine start, adding 71 runs for the second wicket. Both were batting fluently, until, disaster struck.
Shanto’s dive couldn’t beat debutant Rathnayake’s throw from deep square leg, in the 17th over. He made 23, but with Tanzid unbeaten on 61 at the other end, Bangladesh would have still thought they were on top.
Asalanka introduced Hasaranga in the 18th over, partly because finally a right-hander had arrived at the crease. Litton Das fell lbw for a duck to the legspinner’s second ball. Litton has now failed to reach double-figures in his last eight ODIs, stretching back to December 2023. It was his fourth duck too, in these eight innings.
