In their first warm-up match ahead of the ODI World Cup, Bangladesh secured a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka in Guwahati. After bowling out Sri Lanka for 263, Bangladesh chased down the target with eight overs to spare, showcasing a strong all-around performance.
Sri Lanka faced concerns as opener Kusal Perera retired hurt in the 10th over with a strain in his right shoulder, having scored 34 off 24 balls. Despite his departure, Bangladesh dominated the game, with their top three batsmen making significant contributions.
Tanzid Hasan, in only his sixth ODI appearance, played a breezy knock of 84 off 88 balls, including ten fours and two sixes. His partnership of 131 runs with Litton Das (61) laid a solid foundation for Bangladesh’s chase. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who captained the side for the match, added an unbeaten 67 to guide Bangladesh to victory. Mehidy had earlier bowled a tight spell, taking 1 for 32 in his 10 overs.
The result and the strong performances from the top order would be encouraging for Bangladesh as they prepare for the upcoming ODI World Cup. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will need to address their concerns and regroup ahead of the tournament.
Sri Lanka made a promising start after opting to bat, with Pathum Nissanka forming crucial partnerships with Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis. Nissanka played aggressively, scoring 68, while Dhananjaya de Silva contributed with 55 at No. 6. However, the Sri Lankan middle order struggled to find momentum, with offspinner Mahedi Hasan claiming 3 for 36 in his nine overs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also contributed with one wicket each as Sri Lanka was bowled out in the final over.
Bangladesh’s next warm-up match will be against England on Monday, while Sri Lanka will face Afghanistan on Tuesday. Both games will be held at the same venue as they continue their preparations for the ODI World Cup.
