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Mendis leads Sri Lanka to 7-wicket win over Bangladesh in 1st T20

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Kusal Mendis continued his sublime batting form in white-ball cricket and led Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the first T20 on Thursday.

Mendis followed his ODI century two days ago at the same venue with a 73 off 51 balls as Sri Lanka cruised to 159-3 with an over to spare for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Former captain Dasun Shanaka made an impressive return to white-ball cricket after almost one year and limited Bangladesh to 154-5 after Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to field.

Mendis and Pathum Nissanka (42) had all but sealed the chase inside the first five overs with their belligerent hitting as Sri Lanka sped to 78-1.

Nissanka smashed fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin’s first three deliveries for boundaries and Taskin Ahmed conceded 34 off his first two overs inside the powerplay, with Mendis smacking the pace bowler for three boundaries and three sixes.

Nissanka’s entertaining 16-ball knock ended when he holed out to mid-on but not before hoisting spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz for two sixes.

Mendis eased to his 16th T20 half century off 31 balls and — although leg-spinner Rishad Hossain beat Kusal Perera with a googly in the 13th over and had the left-hander splice an easy catch to wicketkeeper Litton Das — Sri Lanka eased to victory.

Shamim Hossain timed his jump to perfection at short extra cover and plucked a brilliant left-handed catch to end Mendis' innings when Sri Lanka was only seven away from victory, after fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin found the leading edge of the batter.

Earlier, opener Parvez Hossain Emon showed plenty of aggression in the powerplay with his breezy knock of 38 off 22 balls before Shanaka squeezed Bangladesh's middle-order with his slower balls.

Emon, who hit five fours and a six, couldn’t clear Shanaka at long-on when he attempted a big hit against Nuwan Thushara as Bangladesh slid to 67-3.

Leg-spinner Jeffery Vandersay perfectly filled the void of injured Wanindu Hasaranga, who has been ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury. Vandersay had Das leg before wicket for just six as the batter misread the googly and went for a sweep.

Mohammad Naim made an unbeaten 32 off 29 balls, but Bangladesh's batters couldn’t find acceleration even in the death overs with Shamim Hossain (14 not out) hitting two late sixes to breach the 150-run mark.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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