The first ODI match of the series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is being played. In this match, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat first. The Sri Lankan team scored 244 runs in the allotted overs.
Sports News: In the first ODI match of the series being played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka once again proved that he is a big player in big matches. In the first ODI against Bangladesh, Asalanka played a superb innings of 106 runs, pulling his team out of a difficult situation and taking them to a respectable score.
The Sri Lankan captain decided to bat first after winning the toss, but his team's start was very poor. Opener Pathum Nissanka returned to the pavilion without scoring, while Nishan Madushka could only score 6 runs. Kamindu Mendis couldn't even open his account and three wickets fell for just 19 runs. In such a situation, captain Asalanka and the experienced Kusal Mendis took the responsibility of handling the innings.
Asalanka's century innings
Charith Asalanka showed why he is called a trusted name in Sri Lankan cricket. He played an innings of 106 runs off 123 balls, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes. His strokes showed both class and aggression. On the other hand, Kusal Mendis contributed 45 runs and supported the captain well.
This innings of Asalanka also became historic because he scored his fourth ODI century at the Premadasa Stadium. With this, he equaled the legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Sanath Jayasuriya, who have scored four-four ODI centuries at this ground. This achievement is a matter of pride for any batsman and adds a golden chapter to the name of Charith Asalanka.
Shining career at Premadasa
28-year-old Asalanka has a special relationship with the Premadasa Stadium. So far, he has scored 1002 runs in 22 matches played here, which includes 4 centuries and 4 half-centuries. This shows that this ground has proved to be very favorable for his game. Charith Asalanka, who made his ODI debut in 2021, has played 74 ODI matches so far and scored 2480 runs. He has 5 centuries and 15 half-centuries to his name. His average and strike rate are proof that he will be among the most trusted batsmen of Sri Lanka in the coming time.
Bangladesh bowlers also showed their sharpness
However, the Bangladeshi bowlers also displayed a sample of excellent bowling. Taskin Ahmed took 4 wickets, creating difficulties for Sri Lanka, while Tanzim Hasan Shakib took 3 wickets. Tanvir Islam and Najmul Hasan Shanto took one wicket each. Despite this, Asalanka's gritty innings took Sri Lanka to 244 runs, which was a respectable score considering the situation.
Milan Rathnayake, who made his debut for Sri Lanka, also made a significant contribution by scoring 29 runs. He formed a partnership with Asalanka and helped the team to stabilize, due to which Sri Lanka was saved from completely collapsing.
