Bangladesh Clinch Historic T20I Series Win Over Sri Lanka

Mahedi Hasan delivered a career-best spell of 4 for 11, while Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck an unbeaten 73 off 47 balls — his highest T20I score — to lead Bangladesh to a historic 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka. The visitors clinched the series with a convincing eight-wicket victory in the deciding game at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (July 16).

Mahedi’s outstanding bowling display restricted Sri Lanka to 132 for 7, with Pathum Nissanka (46) being the only batter in the top five to reach double figures. In reply, Tanzid took charge of the chase with a blistering innings that included six sixes and a four. He shared crucial half-century partnerships with Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy as Bangladesh raced to victory in just 16.3 overs, claiming their first-ever T20I series win over Sri Lanka.

The chase got off to a rocky start when Parvez Hossain Emon was trapped lbw by Nuwan Thushara on the very first ball. Litton Das was initially given out lbw to Binura Fernando but successfully overturned the decision using DRS. He then joined forces with Tanzid to stabilise the innings, taking Bangladesh to 47 for 1 at the end of the PowerPlay, with both batters hitting a six each.

After the fielding restrictions, Tanzid accelerated, hitting two sixes off Charith Asalanka and another off Jeffrey Vandersay. Their 74-run partnership ended in the ninth over when Litton, attempting a slog-sweep, was dismissed by Kamindu Mendis for 32. Tanzid, however, continued his aggressive knock, bringing up his fifty in just 27 balls with a six and a four off Vandersay. By the halfway stage, Bangladesh were firmly in control at 89 for 2.

In the 12th over, Tanzid was dropped by Maheesh Theekshana, which proved costly as he followed it up with another six. Towhid Hridoy played a supporting role, rotating strike and later finishing the game with a boundary and a six before scoring the winning run.

Earlier, Sri Lanka chose to bat but lost early wickets, with Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera dismissed within the first two overs. Mendis, after hitting a boundary, was caught at deep square leg off Shoriful Islam, while Perera edged Mahedi to slip for a golden duck. Although Nissanka kept the scoreboard ticking, wickets continued to fall around him. Dinesh Chandimal top-edged Mahedi to depart in the fifth over, leaving Sri Lanka at 34 for 3.

Mahedi then bowled Charith Asalanka and later removed Nissanka with a caught-and-bowled, finishing with a wicket-maiden that left the hosts struggling at 66 for 5. Kamindu Mendis struck a six and a four off Tanzim Hasan Sakib but fell to Shamim Hossain shortly after. Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Vandersay in the 17th over, reducing Sri Lanka to just over 100 runs with three overs left.

A late cameo from Dasun Shanaka, who smashed two sixes and two fours in a 22-run over off Shoriful, helped Sri Lanka push their total past 130, ending at 132 for 7 in 20 overs.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 132/7 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 46, Dasun Shanaka 35*; Mahedi Hasan 4-11)
Bangladesh 133/2 in 16.3 overs (Tanzid Hasan Tamim 73*, Litton Das 32; Kamindu Mendis 1-21)
Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets.