Bangladesh wrapped up their Sri Lanka tour with a memorable win. In the decisive third T20I of the three-match series, Litton Das’ side chased down the 133-run target with 21 balls to spare, winning by 8 wickets at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.
After losing the first game, Bangladesh bounced back to win the next two and claim the trophy — their first-ever T20I series victory over Sri Lanka, and their fifth T20I series win away from home.
Litton also became the first Bangladesh captain to win multiple away T20I series. His previous success came with a whitewash of West Indies last year.
Returning to the XI, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan starred with a career-best bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for just 11 runs in 4 overs, including a maiden.
Chasing a modest target, Tanzid Hasan produced his best knock yet, smashing 73 off 47 balls with 1 four and 6 sixes.
Sri Lanka chose to bat but slipped early, losing three wickets inside five overs. Shoriful Islam removed Kusal Mendis in the first over, while Mehedi dismissed Kusal Perera in the next. The off-spinner struck again in the fifth over, sending back Dinesh Chandimal.
Mehedi bowled Charith Asalanka in the eighth over before taking the prized scalp of Pathum Nissanka — Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 46 off 39 balls — in his final over.
Kamindu Mendis tried counterattacking but fell for 21 off 15. In the final over, Dasun Shanaka hammered Shoriful for 22 runs, remaining unbeaten on 35 off 25 balls to give Sri Lanka a fighting total.
Mustafizur Rahman bowled tightly, taking 1 for 17 in 4 overs. Shoriful conceded 50 runs in his quota for a wicket, while the other bowlers combined to give away only 82 runs in 16 overs.
Bangladesh lost Parvez Hossain off the first ball of their chase — his fifth duck in 15 matches, and third first-ball dismissal.
Litton survived an early scare via review and built a 74-run partnership off 50 balls with Tanzid.
Litton fell for 32 off 26 trying to hit Kamindu over the top, but Tanzid raced to his fifty in 27 balls and, alongside Towhid Hridoy, finished the job. Their unbroken stand of 59 off 48 balls saw Hridoy remain unbeaten on 27 off 25.
Brief Scores
- Sri Lanka: 132/7 in 20 overs (Nissanka 46, Shanaka 35*; Mehedi 4-11, Mustafiz 1-17, Shoriful 1-50)
- Bangladesh: 133/2 in 16.3 overs (Tanzid 73*, Litton 32, Hridoy 27*; Kamindu 1-21, Thushara 1-25)
Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets
Series: Bangladesh won the three-match series 2-1
Player of the Match: Sheikh Mehedi Hasan
Player of the Series: Litton Das
