Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the 1st ODI of the three-match series, securing a decisive victory by 77 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Although the match featured several twists and turns, a remarkable collapse in Bangladesh’s middle order completely altered the momentum in favor of Sri Lanka.
Match Summary – 1st ODI (Colombo)
| Team | Innings Score | Overs | Top Scorers |
| Sri Lanka | 244 | 49.2 | Charith Asalanka – 106 (123) |
| Bangladesh | 167 | 35.5 | Tanzid Hasan – 62 (60) |
To begin with, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. Initially, their top order struggled under early pressure, with the scoreboard showing just 42/3. However, Charith Asalanka rose to the occasion. His calm and determined century (106 off 123 balls) helped steady the innings. Furthermore, Dhananjaya de Silva supported him well with a valuable 41, and the pair built a much-needed partnership.
Despite Taskin Ahmed’s impressive performance with the ball, where he took four wickets, Sri Lanka succeeded in setting a challenging total of 244 before being dismissed in the last over.
In response, Bangladesh started their chase with confidence. Further, Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto appeared in control, putting together a strong 101-run partnership for the second wicket. At 100/1 in the 16th over, Bangladesh seemed on course for a comfortable win. However, the match quickly took a shocking turn.
Similarly, within the space of just 20 deliveries, Bangladesh collapsed from 100/1 to 105/8. They lost 7 wickets for just 5 runs, marking the second-worst seven-wicket collapse in ODI history. This sudden disaster came largely due to the brilliance of Sri Lanka’s spin duo Wanindu Hasaranga, who finished with 4/10, and Kamindu Mendis, who claimed 3/19. Additionally, Sri Lanka’s fielders played a crucial role, holding onto sharp catches and applying constant pressure.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Performances:
| Bowler (SL) | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 5 | 10 | 4 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 6 | 19 | 3 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 7.5 | 33 | 2 |
The turning point of the match was this astonishing collapse. Moreover, Bangladesh’s middle and lower order fell apart in just 3.3 overs, completely shifting the game’s momentum. Thanks to accurate spin, disciplined bowling, and outstanding fielding, Sri Lanka took full control during this critical phase.
Ultimately, Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the 1st ODI with a well-rounded performance led by smart captaincy, effective spin, and tight fielding. While Bangladesh showed early promise, their collapse exposed serious issues in handling spin and middle-order consistency. Looking ahead, they will aim to recover and respond strongly in the second ODI.
