Sri Lanka – Bangladesh 3rd T20I Hasan Duo Guides Bangladesh to First T20I Series Win

 Bangladesh Crowned Champions – Clinch Maiden T20I Series Victory Over Hosts

By M. Shamil Amit

Right-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan, with a four-wicket haul, and Tanzid Hasan, who slammed an unbeaten 73 off 46 balls, shone for Bangladesh in their convincing eight-wicket win in the deciding third T20I match against hosts Sri Lanka. The match, played under floodlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday, saw Bangladesh clinch their first-ever T20I series win against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh, though losing their first wicket on the very first ball of their run chase of 133, settled down as skipper Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan took control. The pair put together a valuable 74-run partnership for the second wicket, laying the foundation for their victory.

Tanzid, batting with confidence, raced to his half-century in just 27 balls, which included one boundary and five towering sixes. He, along with Towhid Hridoy, further frustrated the Sri Lankan bowlers while guiding Bangladesh closer to victory. Their unbroken 59-run stand for the third wicket saw Bangladesh reach the target with ease in the 17th over. Tanzid's unbeaten knock of 73 came off 47 balls and included one boundary and six sixes.

This was Bangladesh’s fourth successive T20I win against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Having already lost the Test and ODI series, they ended their tour on a high note with this historic T20I series victory.

Earlier, Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat first. The hosts suffered an early setback, losing both Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera cheaply within the first two overs, with only 19 runs on the board.

Runs were hard to come by as right-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan kept the batters in check. Hasan delivered a double blow by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal and skipper Asalanka, leaving the hosts struggling at 49 for 4 in the eighth over, while opener Pathum Nissanka was left watching partners fall at the other end.

At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka were 66 for 4 before Nissanka became Hasan’s fourth victim, having made a top score of 46 off 39 balls with four boundaries.

Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka made efforts to steady the innings, but their brief 22-run partnership for the sixth wicket ended with Mendis’ dismissal, leaving Sri Lanka at 88 for 6 in the 14th over.

Jeffrey Vandersay, along with Shanaka, added 15 runs for the seventh wicket before being separated with the score at 103 for 7. Shanaka, joined by Maheesh Theekshana, managed to hold on for the remaining three overs. The pair added an unbroken 29-run stand for the eighth wicket, helping Sri Lanka finish with a respectable 132 for 7.

Right-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan, who dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, ended with impressive figures of 4 for 11 in his four overs.