All-round show helps Sri Lanka go 1-0 up

Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 25 runs in the first T20I in Sylhet, taking a 1-0 series lead. Half-centuries from Harshitha Samarawickrama (61 off 35) and Imesha Dulani (55 off 40), along with Chamari Athapaththu's all-round contribution (32 & 2-19), led the visitors to victory.

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka lost Hasini Perera early. Athapaththu and Dulani added 42 runs in 32 balls before Athapaththu fell to Sultana Khatun. An 80-run stand between Dulani and Samarawickrama then set the foundation for Sri Lanka's 161/4.

Samarawickrama accelerated after Dulani's half-century, hitting Fariha Trisna for a boundary and six before reaching her fifty. She scored 12 off the final over to push Sri Lanka to a commanding total.

Bangladesh openers Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous started briskly, adding 39 runs in 21 balls before Ferdous was stumped off Athapaththu. Sri Lanka then struck quickly, reducing Bangladesh to 44/4 in 12 balls. Shorna Akter (60 off 45) and Sobhana Mostary added 39 runs, but the required rate climbed. Athapaththu dismissed Mostary in the 14th over. Shorna fought alone, reaching her half-century before being run out on the final ball.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 161/4 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 61, Imesha Dulani 55; Sultana Khatun 2-29) beat Bangladesh 136/7 in 20 overs (Shorna Akter 60, Dilara Akter 23; Chamari Athapaththu 2-19, Malki Madara 2-31) by 25 runs