SL vs BAN 2025, First T20I: Nissanka-Mendis duo motors Lankans to 1-0 lead

Sri Lanka emerged victorious over Bangladesh by seven wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, July 10. The hosts were off to a dazzling start in the 20-over segment after winning the Test and ODI series previously by 1-0 and 2-1, respectively.

The Bangla Tigers had gotten off to a flying start in the powerplay as they batted first with Parvez Hossain Emon having scored 35 of his team's 54 runs, that too off only 16 balls. Tanzid Hasan (16 off 17) was the only wicket to fall inside the first six overs. Jeffrey Vandersay struck in his very first over to dismiss Litton Das. The skipper could only manage to score 6 off 11.

Halfway through the innings, Emon, the set batter, had also been dismissed. The third over of Dasun Shanaka, who was making a comeback to the national setup after almost a year, brought about the wicket of Towhid Hridoy. By the end of 20 overs, the visitors could only manage 154/5 with Mohammad Naim staying unbeaten after scoring only 32 runs off 29 deliveries. Shanaka ended up as the only bowler who bowled 10 dot deliveries.

In the hosts' reply, Pathum Nissanka started off the run-chase with three back-to-back boundaries. The Lankans were off to an unbelievably fiery start, with 64 runs being the scored at the end of four overs. Nissanka was all set to get to his fifty but fell eight short after getting holing out to mid-on to end a power-packed innings of 42 off just 16 balls. The Lankan Lions ended up registering 83 at the end of their powerplay, which gave them a firm grip on the chase.

By 10 overs into the pursuit of the target, the required was just 4.40. Kusal Mendis brought up his fifty on the final ball of the 11th over. The next couple of overs produced no boundaries and a wicket of Kusal Perera (24 off 25). Mendis could not quite stay till the end. He was dismissed on 73, a 51-ball knock which comprised five fours and three sixes. The target was eventually eclipsed with an over to spare.