1st ODI Live Score card of Bangladesh v Sri Lanka at Mirpur!
Sensible batting by the Bangladesh middle order - led by Mohammad Ashraful's workmanlike fifty - aided a recovery after a top-order collapse, to help the hosts post 260 for 7. The openers had given Bangladesh the momentum to pile on a challenging score before they hit the self-destruct button to hand the initiative over to Sri Lanka. But from thereon, Bangladesh slowly but surely swam to safety through dogged resistance to give their bowlers something to bowl at on a decent strip for batting.
The bulk of the fireworks were reserved for the slog overs, when the batting Powerplay was taken, before a frenetic final over which leaked 20 runs. Ashraful's 75 was significant mainly because it kept the Sri Lankans at bay, helped the innings last the entire 50 overs and with wickets in hand, Naeem Islam had the freedom to smack it around and take the score past 250.
An opening stand of 65 between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes set the platform for that kind of score but the script changed a little before the middle order redressed the balance. A familiar weakness returned to haunt them - the inability to sustain their concentration for long periods. The result was a passage of play gifted to the Sri Lankans, during which four wickets fell for nine runs.
The half-century opening stand was only their 28th in 212 games. The slide began when Imrul Kayes - who attempted several on-side whips during his stint - fetched a short delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara from off stump and top edged to Thilan Samaraweera running forward from fine leg. At the other end, Tamim batted like he was in control of his instincts but perished to an irresponsible shot, advancing to Tillakaratne Dilshan and miscuing the loft to mid-off. Article by Cricinfo