Lankans buckle under Tamim ton
Opener Tamim Iqbal became the highest individual scorer in ODIs - Pic by Amila Gamage
Tamim Iqbal along with Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan cracked match winning knocks to script an emphatic 90-run win for Bangladesh against host Sri Lanka in the first of the three ODI series encounter played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.
Ironically never in the history of Sri Lanka’s limited overs cricket, have the hosts scored over three hundred runs and won a game at home. So, for this amateurish Lankan outfit, this score was a task from the inception. It was complete reversal of roles. During the last series the Bangladeshi cricketers were the bunnies, but, this time at the Dambulla Stadium, the Lankans looked very much the amateurs.
Neither, selectors have not been helpful, during the past sixteen matches Sri Lanka have had eight different openers. Then when could they talk about consolidation. It was very evident all seven batsmen who played yesterday, everyone including skipper Tharanga was playing for his place. So, it was evident everyone was playing for himself and not for the team.
This looks a side that has been led on a leash rather than a composition of players who are professional sportsmen.
On the other hand the Bangladeshi cricketers who were spurred by the Test victory in their hundredth game, were the more athletic outfit of the two. They were yards ahead in all departments.
While batting Thamim Iqbal knew that he had to be the sheet anchor. First he batted along with young Sabbir Rahman. Then when they needed consolidation Tamim batted along with Shakib Al Hasan. Then when were needed at the tail end, Tamim took the Lankan attack by its tail. Bangladesh scored 109 runs in the last ten overs.
In bowling all bowlers knew where they had to keep their line and length.
Things went awry for the Lankans from the beginning. Skipper Upul Tharanga won the toss and put the visitors to bat, and at the time of the toss the Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza also said that had he won the toss he would have done the same. However, Tharanga opined that in the second session the dew factor would play a part on the Dambulla wicket, but, seemingly there was none.
Then there were inexplicable deeds too. One wonders how to explain the presence of both Sachith Pathirana and Milinda Siriwardena playing in the same outfit. Both do the same job, but, yesterday, Siriwardena was not asked to bowl.
Opener Tamim who ended his innings of 127 as the highest individual score made by a Bangladesh player along with Sabbir and the experience Shakib Al Hasan combined with success which laid the foundation for Bangladesh invited to take first lease of the wicket to make a formidable score of 324 for 7 which was their highest score against Sri Lanka.
Initially Chandimal scored a 59, but, the side did not look they were on the chase. Later Thisara went on to reach his half ton racing to it in just 28 balls which had four boundaries and two sixes, but even that big hitting did not make much of an impact.
The two teams will play their second ODI match on March 28 at the same venue.
 Scoreboard
Bangladesh innings
Tamim Iqbal c Gunatileke b Kumara 127
(Looking for a big hit; caught at long on)
Soumya Sarkar st Chandimal b Lakmal 10
(Plays across the line and misses)
Sabbir Rahman c Tharanga b Gunaratne 54
(Goes for a drive caught brilliantly)
Mushfiqur Rahim c and b Sandakan 01
(Low delivery offers return catch to bowler)
Shakib Al Hasan c Sandakan b Lakmal 72
(Slower delivery lofts it to short fine leg)
Mosaddek Hossain not out 24
Mahamudullah not out 13
Extras (lb10, w13) 23
Total (5 wickets: 50 overs) 324
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Sarkar), 2-119 (Rahman), 3-120 (Rahim), 4-264 (Al Hasan), 5-289 (Iqbal).
Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 8-0-45-2, Lahiru Kumara 8-0-74-1, Thisara Perera 8-0-63-1-0, Sachith Pathirana 5-0-27-0, Lakshan Sandakan 8-0-43-1, Asela Gunaratne 10-0-40-1, Dhanushka Gunatileke 3-0-22-0.
Sri Lanka innings
Dhanushka Gunatilleke lbw b Mortaza 00
(Deceived by a sharp delivery)
Upul Tharanga c Mortaza b Ahmed 19
(Short ball swings it to the fielder at mid on)
Kusal Mendis c sub by Miraz 04
(Comes down the track only succeeds to to loft it to long on)
Dinesh Chandimal c Sarkar b Miraz 59
(Goes for the sweep caught at fine leg)
Asela Gunaratne c Hossain b Al Hasan 24
(Goes for the reverse sweep caught at backward point)
Milinda Siriwardena c sub b M. Rahman 22
(Short ball mistimed caught at midwicket)
Sachith Pathirana c Mahmudullah b Mortaza 31
(Going for the big hit caught at covers)
Thisara Perera c Mahmudullah b M. Rahman 55
(Mistimed swing scoops high caught at long-off)
Suranga Lakmal c S. Rahman b M. Rahman 08
(Rising delivery gives simple catch to mid on)
Lakshan Sandakan run out 03
Lahiru Kumara not out 00
Extras (lb5, w4) 09
Total (all out: 45.1 overs) 234
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gunatileke), 2-15 (Mendis), 3-31 (Tharanga), 4-87 (Gunaratne), 5-121 (Chandimal), 6-153 (Siriwardena), 7-171 (Pathirana), 8-208, 9-232, 10-234.
Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 7-2-35-2, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 10-0-43-2, Taskin Ahmed 9-0-41-1, Shakib Al Hasan 8-0-33-1, Mustafizur Rahman 8.1-0-56-3, Mosaddek Hossain 3-0-21-0.