Kandy, July 10, 2025 – Sri Lanka continued their winning momentum at home with a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series at the buzzing Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
The hosts chased down a target of 155 with an over to spare, thanks to an explosive start and a composed finish.
Batting first after losing the toss, Bangladesh posted 154/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Parvez Hossain Emon gave the visitors a flying start, but once Nuwan Thushara made the initial breakthrough, Sri Lankan bowlers quickly took control. The spinners, especially Jeffrey Vandersay, proved tricky to handle as the pitch slowed down. Despite some resistance from Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh couldn’t build big partnerships.
Bangladesh captain Litton Das admitted after the match that the side continues to struggle with losing wickets at regular intervals — a recurring theme over their last 7-8 games. “We couldn’t capitalize despite a decent start,” he said, while praising the efforts of young spinner Rishad Hossain for his tight bowling spell.
When Sri Lanka began their chase, it felt as if they were eyeing a 200-plus total. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis stormed out of the gates, hammering 83 runs in the Powerplay. Nissanka departed after a quickfire cameo, but Mendis anchored the innings, finishing with 73 off 51 balls and earning the Player of the Match award. His calculated aggression ensured that despite a minor slowdown in the middle overs, Sri Lanka always remained ahead of the game.
Captain Charith Asalanka credited the win to a “complete team effort,” adding that their strategy to bowl first paid off, especially with the shorter boundaries and fast outfield at Pallekele. Asalanka also praised Vandersay, who stepped up in the absence of Hasaranga.
The atmosphere in Sri Lanka was electric, as fans packed the stands on Poya Day, a public holiday, to watch their team take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series. The second T20I will now shift to Dambulla on Sunday, July 13, where Bangladesh will aim to bounce back and level the series. For now, Sri Lanka look in complete command of the T20I battle.