Kusal Janith stars as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh
Sajeewa Jayakody - Reporting from Pallekele
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Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Janith Perera hits a six during the
Twenty20 International match between Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh at The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in
Pallekele yesterday. Picture by Kamal Jayamanne |
Kusal Janith Perera’s career best maiden half century powered Sri
Lanka’s 17-run win against Bangladesh in their tour ending one off
Twenty20 played at Pallekele yesterday.
The 22-year-old aggressive left hander showed great signs for the
Lankan limited over top order batting after legendary Sanath
Jayasuriya’s era. Perera smashed 64 runs in 44 balls including four
sixes over mid-wicket and fine-leg remembering Jayasuriya’s batting
style and earned the man-of-the-match award.
Batting first, Kusal Janith Perera and Dilshan Munaweera gave Sri
Lanka an aggressive start as the openers scored 25 runs in first two
overs. It was Sri Lanka’s highest total after two overs in Twenty20
matches. The home team reached 50 runs in just 29 balls. Perera and
debut captian Dinesh Chandimal added 45 runs for the second wicket and
Sri Lanka made 100 in 11.5 overs.
Test captain Angelo Mathews and limited over specialist batsman
Jeevan Mendis put on the highest partnership for the fifth wicket in the
Twenty20 for Sri Lanka. Mendis cracked three crunching sixes and two
fours before he was bowled for 37.
Sri Lanka scored 24 runs in the 18th over as Thisara Perera smashed
two sixes and two fours off Shahadat Hossain. Thisara was unbeaten on 22
in just seven balls. Angelo Mathews hit undefeated 30 and both batsmen
added 32 runs in 2.1 overs.
With Thisara’s powerful strike at the end of the innings, Sri Lanka
made 198 runs for the loss of five wickets, equalling the highest total
at Pallekele as the Lankans had made 198 for 3 against Australia in
2011. In reply, Banladesh were restricted for 181 for 7. Angelo Mathews
removed opener Shamsur Rahman as the right hander was trapped lbw for a
duck. Mohommad Ashraful batted with great confident hitting two
consecutive fours off Mathews’ third and fourth balls. Ashraful scored
43, the highest individual score for Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka:
K. Perera c Rahim b Mahmudullah 64
D. Munaweera b Gazi 5
D. Chandimal c Jahurul b Razzak 9
L. Thirimanne run out 5
A. Mathews not out 30
J. Mendis b Rubel 37
T. Perera not out 22
Extras (lb7, w19) 26
Total (for five wickets; 20 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Munaweera), 2-77 (Chandimal), 3-86 (Thirimanne),
4-100 (K. Perera), 5-166 (Mendis).
Bowling: Shahadat 4-0-54-0 (w1), Rubel 4-0-40-1 (w8), Gazi 4-0-30-1 (w2),
Razzak 4-0-39-1 (w6), Mahmudullah 4-0-28-1 (w2)
Bangladesh:
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b T. Perera 43
Shamsur Rahman lbw b Mathews 0
Jahurul Islam b Mathews 11
Mushfiqur Rahim c Eranga b Senanayake 39
Nasir Hossain c A. Perera b T. Perera 8
Mohammad Mahmudullah run out 31
Mominul Haque not out 26
Sohag Gazi c Mathews b Malinga 9
Abdur Razzak not out 6
Extras (lb3, w5) 8
Total (for seven wickets; 20 overs) 181
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Shamsur), 2-27 (Jahurul), 3-68 (Ashraful), 4-85 (Nasir),
5-135 (Rahim), 6-137 (Mahmudullah), 7-156 (Gazi).
Bowling: Mathews 4-0-37-2, Eranga 4-0-37-0 (w2), Malinga 4-0-27-1,
Senanayake 4-0-29-1, T. Perera 2-0-25-2 (w3), Mendis 1-0-6-0, A. Perera 1-0-17-0. |
