DAMBULLA: Opener Tamim Iqbal struck a century as Bangladesh posted a record 324-5 in the first One-day International of a three-match series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Saturday.

Tamim made 127 off 142 balls while Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman added two more fifties, helping the visitors pass their previous highest score of 265-9 against Sri Lanka.

Tamim, who struck 15 fours and a six on his way to his eighth ODI century, put on 144 runs with Shakib for the fourth wicket, also Bangladesh’s best ever partnership against Sri Lanka.

Shakib hit 72 off 71 balls and looked heading towards a century before he swept a Suranga Lakmal delivery wide outside off-stump to be caught by Lakshan Sandakan at short fine leg.

Tamim, who also reached a personal milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi to complete 10,000 international runs, led the batting charge throughout the innings until he fell to Lahiru Kumara in the 48th over.

Sent into bat first by Sri Lanka captain Upul Tharanga, Bangladesh lost opener Soumya Sarkar early when he edged Lakmal to wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal for 10.

But Tamim and Sabbir, who made 54 off 56 balls, added 90 for the second wicket to bring the innings back on track on what looked like a flat batting pitch at Dambulla Rangiri International Stadium.

Tharanga took a brilliant reflex catch at short cover to end Sabbir’s aggressive innings which contained 10 fours, including three in one over off Thisara Perera.

Sandakan then took a catch off his own bowling to remove Mushfiqur Rahim for one but Shakib joined Tamim to continue Bangladesh’s domination.

Bangladesh handed off-spinner Mehedi Hasan his ODI debut while Sri Lanka included Milinda Siriwardana.

The preceding two-Test series ended in a 1-1 draw.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal c Gunathilaka b Kumara 127

Soumya Sarkar c Chandimal b Lakmal 10

Sabbir Rahman c Tharanga b Gunaratne 54

Mushfiqur Rahim c and b Sandakan 1

Shakib Al Hasan c Sandakan b Lakmal 72

Mosaddek Hossain not out 24

Mahmudullah not out 11

EXTRAS (LB-10, W-13) 23

TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 324

FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-119, 3-120, 4-264, 5-289.

DID NOT BAT: Mehedi Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

BOWLING: Lakmal 8-0-45-2; Kumara 8-0-74-1 (3w); Perera 8-0-63-0; Pathirana 5-0-27-0 (6w); Sandakan 8-0-43-1 (3w); Gunaratne 10-0-40-1 (1w); Gunathilaka 3-0-22-0.

SRI LANKA: M.D. Gunathilaka, W.U. Tharanga, B.K.G. Mendis, L.D. Chandimal, D.A.S. Gunaratne, T.A.M. Siriwardana, S.S. Pathirana, N.L.T.C. Perera, R.A.S. Lakmal, P.A.D.L.R. Sandakan, C.B.R.L.S. Kumara.

UMPIRES: R.S.A. Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka) and M.A. Gough (England).

TV UMPIRE: S. Ravi (India).

MATCH REFEREE: A.J. Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2017