Bangladesh made a fiery start in the opening ODI against Sri Lanka, reducing the hosts to 50 for 3 at the end of the first 10 overs in Colombo on 2 July.
It was a powerplay dominated by the Tigers’ pace attack, with Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib delivering early jolts that left Sri Lanka reeling.
Opting to bat first at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka were rattled early. Tanzim struck the first blow in the fourth over, removing opener Pathum Nissanka for a duck. The delivery climbed sharply outside off stump, drawing a mistimed cut that feathered through to Litton Das behind the stumps.
Taskin Ahmed, returning from injury, continued the assault with two quick wickets. In the fifth over, he dismantled Nishan Madushka’s stumps with a delivery that nipped in off the pitch, sending the right-hander back for 6. Then in the seventh over, Kamindu Mendis fell without scoring, mistiming a drive that was comfortably caught at mid-off.
With the scoreboard reading 29 for 3, Sri Lanka found themselves under severe pressure. However, the experienced pair of Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka began to steady the innings. They added a composed 21-run stand to close out the powerplay, offering some resistance against a disciplined Bangladeshi bowling effort.
The Tigers’ fast bowlers maintained excellent control, mixing lengths and using the new ball smartly. While spinners were yet to be introduced, the early breakthroughs ensured Bangladesh started the series with the upper hand in Miraz’s first match as full-time ODI captain.
At the time of writing, after 13 overs, Sri Lanka were 56 for 3, with Kusal Mendis on 27 off 30 balls and Charith Asalanka on 19 off 23, trying to rebuild the innings after the early damage.