COLOMBO: A four-wicket haul by Mahendi Hasan and a blistering half-century by Tanzid Hasan helped Bangladesh complete a 2-1 series win, defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final T20 International on Wednesday.

The series triumph helped Bangladesh end the Sri Lanka tour on a positive note, following losses in the Test and ODI series.

Tanzid scored 73 not-out with six sixes and one four to help Bangladesh chase down the target of 133 with eight wickets in hand after Mahedi, replacing Mehidy Hasan Miraz, picked up four wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 132-7.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum on a slow surface. Despite a steady start from opener Pathum Nissanka, who top-scored with 46 off 39 balls, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Mahedi (4-11) delivered a fiery spell in the powerplay, as Sri Lanka were reduced to 49/4 in 7.4 overs, and completed his four-wicket haul by removing a Nissanka.

Kamindu Mendis (21 off 15) and Dasun Shanaka (35* off 25) tried to rebuild in the middle overs, but the lack of partnerships hurt the home side.

Mustafizur Rahman bowled tightly at the death and claimed one wicket for just 17 runs, while Shamim Hossain chipped in with a key scalp as Sri Lanka managed only 38 runs in the final five overs.

In replym Bangladesh lost Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck, but Tanzid delivered a brutal counter-attack, along with skipper Litton Das (32 in 26 balls, with two fours and a six), forming a 74-run partnership.

Tanzid stuck around till the end, along with Towhid Hridoy (27 not out in 25 balls, with a four and six) took Bangladesh to victory with 21 balls to spare.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

P. Nissanka c&b Mahedi 46

K. Mendis c Towhid b Shoriful 6

K. Perera c Tanzid b Mahedi Hasan 0

D. Chandimal c Jaker b Mahedi 4

C. Asalanka b Mahedi 3

K.D. Mendis c Tanzim b Shamim 21

D. Shanaka not out 35

J. Vandersay c Tanzim b Mustafizur 7

M. Theekshana not out 6

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 132

DID NOT BAT: B. Fernando, N. Thushara

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-14 (K. Mendis), 2-19 (Perera), 3-34 (Chandimal), 4-49 (Asalanka), 5-66 (Nissanka), 6-88 (K.D. Mendis), 7-103 (Vandersay)

BOWLING: Shoriful 4-0-50-1 (2w), Mahedi 4-1-11-4 (1w), Mustafizur 4-0-17-1, Tanzim 2-0-23-0, Shamim 2-0-10-1, Rishad 4-0-20-0

BANGLADESH:

Parvez Hossain lbw b Thushara 0

Tanzid Hasan not out 73

Litton Das c Perera b K.D. Mendis 32

Towhid Hridoy not out 27

EXTRAS (LB-1) 1

TOTAL (for two wickets, 16.3 overs) 133

DID NOT BAT: Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Parvez), 2-74 (Litton)

BOWLING: Thushara 3-0-25-1, Fernando 2-0-11-0, Theekshana 3.3-0-30-0, Asalanka 1-0-16-0, Vandersay 4-0-29-0, K.D. Mendis 3-0-21-1

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2025