Ban in SL: Sri Lanka win first T20 by 6 wickets

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets in the first game and took a 1-0 lead of the two-match Twenty20 series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday (4).

Electing to bat first Bangladesh posted 155-6 and Sri Lanka chased down the target by reaching 158-4 with seven deliveries to spare. 

Sri Lanka's comfortable win was spearheaded by opener Kusal Perera who slammed 77 off 53 deliveries which included nine fours and a six. 

Perera got together with skipper Upul Tharanga to share an opening stand of 65 runs before the latter was sent back for 24 off 23 deliveries inclusive four boundaries. 

Coming down the order allrounder Seekkuge Prasanna who claimed a wicket earlier hit an unbeaten 22 off 12 deliveries inclusive of a four and two sixes. 

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, who hit an unbeaten knock of 9 runs, claimed two wickets. 

For Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar (29), Mosaddek Hossain (34n.o.) and Mahmadullah (31) contributed with useful knocks. 

The second and final match will be played on Thursday (6) at the same venue.   

Bangladesh 155 for 6 wickets (20) (Soumya Sarkar 29, Sabbir Rahman 16, Mosaddek Hossain 34n.o, Mahmadullah 31, Lasith Malinga 2/38, Seekkuge Prasanna 1/19, Vikum Sanjaya 1/24, Asela Gunaratne 1/24)

Sri Lanka 158 for 4 wickets (18.5) (Kusal Perera 77, Upul Tharanga 24, Asela Gunaratne 17, Seekkuge Prasanna 22n.o, Mashrafe Mortaza 2/32, Taskin Ahmed 1/33)