🔥 Mendis blitz sets PowerPlay record straight

Kusal Mendis launched a stunning assault that guided Sri Lanka to a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening T20I. The Mendis blitz, featuring a 73-run knock, helped Sri Lanka smash their best-ever PowerPlay total in T20Is — 83/1 in 6 overs — and chase down 155 with ease.

Right from the first over, the intent was clear. Pathum Nissanka began with three consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Saifuddin. Just one over later, Mendis joined the fun, hammering 16 off Taskin Ahmed, which included two boundaries and a six.

From that point on, Bangladesh struggled to regain control. By the end of the fourth over, Sri Lanka had already raced to 65 without loss. Although Nissanka eventually fell for 42 off just 16 balls, the Mendis blitz had already done significant damage.

⏸ Middle overs calm the storm, but the chase stays smooth

Although the middle overs brought a temporary slowdown, Sri Lanka never lost grip on the chase. After Nissanka’s dismissal, Kusal Perera joined Mendis and kept the scoreboard moving.

While the Bangladeshi spinners tried to build pressure from both ends, Perera responded with well-timed boundaries. Meanwhile, Mendis remained steady and brought up his fifty in just 31 balls. This solid partnership ensured Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required rate throughout the innings.

Eventually, Perera departed after mistiming a shot off Rishad Hossain. However, with the asking rate below six, the game remained firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor. Thanks to the Mendis blitz, the early momentum kept them well in control.

💥 Mendis blitz ends, but Asalanka provides the final flourish

With only eight runs needed, Mendis finally fell for 73. Nevertheless, the match had already slipped away from Bangladesh. Coming in with little pressure, Charith Asalanka wasted no time. He sealed the game with a powerful six over long-on, completing the chase in the 19th over.

Notably, Sri Lanka’s top order set the tone, but their finishers ensured there were no hiccups in closing out the match. It was a clinical performance in every department.

🏏 Bangladesh’s good start fades after early breakthroughs

Earlier, Bangladesh opted to bat and made a brisk start. Parvez Hossain Emon looked aggressive early, hitting 38 off just 24 balls. However, his opening partner Tanzid Hasan Tamim struggled for rhythm, which slowed their momentum slightly.

Despite that, they reached 54/1 by the end of the PowerPlay. But the match shifted dramatically in the ninth over. First, Litton Das was trapped LBW by Jeffrey Vandersay. Then, just a few deliveries later, Maheesh Theekshana bowled Emon, sending Bangladesh into a mid-innings slump at 67/3.

From that point forward, run-scoring became more difficult. Although Mohammad Naim provided some stability with 32* off 29, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with 29 off 23, boundaries were hard to come by.

Fortunately for Bangladesh, Shamim Hossain produced a short but fiery cameo — 14* off 5 balls — that gave them a late boost. Even so, their total of 154/5 always looked 20 runs short, especially against a team inspired by the Mendis blitz.

📊 Match Summary

Bangladesh – 154/5 (20 overs)
🎯 Parvez Hossain Emon 38, Mohammad Naim 32 | Theekshana 2-37

Sri Lanka – 159/3 (19 overs)
🔥 Kusal Mendis 73, Pathum Nissanka 42 | Miraz 1-24, Rishad 1-24

🏆 Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets

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