Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets

Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the first T20I of Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka. After losing both Test and One Day International (ODI) series, Bangladesh take on Sri Lanka in the shortest format of the game at Pallekele.

Sri Lanka are going to miss Wanindu Hasaranga, who will miss the rest of the series after injuring his hamstring in the last ODI.

Bangladesh have been in the worst form in the T20Is, losing 11 out of their last 15 games. Sri Lanka are also out of sorts in the format, losing eight of their last 13 T20I matches.

Sri Lanka lead 11-6 in the head-to-head record against Bangladesh in the T20 format. However, Bangladesh lead 3-2 in the head-to-head in T20I matches played on Sri Lankan soil.

Notably, Bangladesh have last lost a T20I match on Sri Lankan soil against Sri Lanka since 2017.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat!

Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (capt & wk), Naim Sheikh, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzim Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, and Mohammad Saifuddin

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, and Binura Fernando

Farveez Maharoof says the pitch is good bat on.

"First powerplay will be key for both teams," he reckons, adding that Sri Lanka's decision to bowl first surprised him a bit.

Bangladesh Skipper Liton says wicket looks good to bat on and hope his team will put a good score on the board.

"We have a balanced side, five bowlers, six batters. The players are confident. A few new faces in the T20I team. We want to enjoy the game."

Lankan skipper Asalanka says his team would be happy to chase on these kind of grounds.

"We are going with 6-5 combination, with two all-rounders. Karunaratne and Shanaka are back. We are searching for our best combination. Hasaranga is a big miss, but Vandersay is a got option."

Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan open for Bangladesh. Chamika Karunaratne with the new ball.

Emon takes the first strike and hit the first four of the match in the second ball.

Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan score eight runs in the first over for Bangladesh off Chamika Karunaratne.

Nuwan Thushara bowls the second over. Tanzid get the second boundary for Bangladesh as he drives excellently down the ground on the second delivery.  

Bangladesh score 7 runs in the second over.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim 8(8)

Parvez Hossain Emon 7(4)

Parvez Hossain Emon whacks Binura Fernando to for six to deep mid-wicket. Emon smokes a slower delivery over deep mid-wicket.

Bangladesh get nine off the third over.

Bangladesh 24/3 (3 overs)

Sri Lanka brings in spinner. Emon hits a low full toss by Theekshana in the first bowl and two more in the last two balls. 14 in the over! Emon off to a flying start. Bangladesh 38/0 (4 overs)

Parvez Hossain Emon 27(11)

Tanzid Hasan Tamim 10(13)

Bangladesh lost the first wicket. Thushara breaks the opening partnership. Tanzid Hasan flicks a low full toss uppishly but straight to the fielder at mid-wicket. Bangladesh 46/1 after fifth over. Liton joins Emon.

Tanzid Hasan c Theekshana b N Thushara 16(17)

Emon chips over covers for a beatiful boundary to bring 50 on the board off the sixth over bowled by Binura Fernando. Eight from the last over of powerplay.

Parvez Hossain Emon 35(16)

Litton Das 2(3)

Shanaka bowled first boundary-less over for Sri Lanka. Bangladesh get only 3 in the seventh over.

Bangladesh 57/1 (7 overs)

Liton Das 3(7)

Parvez Hossain Emon 36(18)

Vandersay plumbs Liton in the last ball of the eighth over. Liton lunges forward to attempt sweep in a googly. He takes review, in vain.

Bangladesh 65/2 after 8 overs

Theekshana gets Emon, Bangladesh lost two wickets in successive overs. Emon looks to strike a good length on off down the ground but Shanaka at long-off takes a well-judged catch. Emon departs after a fiery 38 off 22 balls.

Bangladesh 69/3 after 9 overs

Hridoy joins Naim in the fourth wicket partnership after Bangladesh lost two quick wickets. Naim hit a tossed up delivery of Vandersay on leg for six, the second of Bangladesh innings, in the penultimate delivery. Naim goes down on his knee and slogsweeps it over deep square leg. Bangladesh finally get a boundary after 27 balls.

Bangladesh 79/3 in 10 overs.

Mohammad Naim 10(7)

Towhid Hridoy 3(3)

Shanaka bowls another fantastic over, conceding only 3 runs after 2 in his first.

Bangladesh 82-3 after 11 overs.

Mohammad Naim10(8)

Towhid Hridoy 6(8)

Dasun Shanaka 2-0-5-0

Shanaka gets Towhid Hridoy, caught by Kusal Mendis. Towhid Hridoy's struggle comes to an end. Towhid Hridoy c Kusal Mendis b Shanaka 10(13).

Bangladesh 93/4 after 13 overs

Miraz joins Naim.

Naim takes a successful review off Vandersay's first bowl. Bangladesh 97/4 after 14 overs.

Miraz's boundary in the fourth ball of the over brings up 100 for Bangladesh, a much needed one after 28 balls. He hits Shanaka another four the next delivery. Finally some respite for the visitors.

Bangladesh 108/4 after 15 overs

Mehidy Hasan Miraz 13(9)

Mohammad Naim 19(18)

Naim dropped by Mendis in the fourth ball of Vandersay. Miraz gets another boundary in the last ball.

Bangladesh 116/4 after 16.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz 20(14)

Mohammad Naim 20(19)

After six runs in the seventeenth over, Bangladesh get 8 in the eighteenth. Two well-set batsmen are looking for the elusive big over.

Bangladesh 130/4 after 18 over

Mohammad Naim 26(24)

Mehidy Hasan Miraz 25(21)

Theekshana gets rid of Miraz after conceding a boundary in the previous delivery. Mehidy Hasan Miraz looks to go big in a tossed up delivery outside off but caught by Asalanka in cover. Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Asalanka b Theekshana 29(23). Shamim Hossain joins Naim and reverse swipes over third man for a six in the second ball he faces.

Bangladesh 143 for five in 19 overs.

Shamim hits another six in the final over and Bangladesh put 154/5 on the board, a sub-par total as per Mahroof's estimation. Naim remains not out for 32 off 29 balls, a slow innings in the batting wicket. A cameo by Shamim ensures Bangladesh get past 150.

Bangladesh 154/5 after 20 overs

Mohammad Naim 32(29)

Shamim Hossain 14(5)

Nissanka struck three boundaries in the first three balls off Saifuddin. Sri Lanka gets 14 in the first over.

Kusal Mendis 1(1)

Pathum Nissanka 13(5)

Kusal starts the second over bowled by Taskin Ahmed with a boundary and hits another for four in the fourth. The right hander whacked the final ball into the stand through deep square leg. 16 off the over.

Sri Lanka 30/0 in 2 overs

Kusal Mendis 17 (7)

Pathum Nissanka 13 (5)

Nissanka hits one six and two boundaries off Tanzim Hasan Sakib to take Sri Lanka to 46 for 0 in three overs.

Pathum Nissanka 27(10)

Kusal Mendis 18(8)

Boundaries galore as Lankan openers send Bangladeshi bowlers all over the ground. Kusal hits two sixes and one four in the first three deliveries of Taskin. Sri Lanka gets 18 in the fourth over.

Sri Lanka 64/0 after 4 overs

Pathum Nissanka28(12)

Kusal Mendis35(12)

Liton brings in Miraz, who concedes a six in the first ball and another in the third. He finally gets Nissanka in the fourth as the right hander was caught in mid-on by Rishad . Nissanka's blitzkrieg of 42 off 16 comes to an end. Sri Lanka lose their first wicket at 78. K Perera joins Mendis. Sri Lanka 78/1 in 5 overs.

Sri Lanka score 83 in the powerplay, losing the wicket of Nissanka. Some respite for Bangladesh as Saifuddin concedes only 5 in the sixth over. The hosts need 72 runs from 84 balls

Kusal Mendis 38(15)

Kusal Perera 2(5)

Sri Lanka cross 100 in the ninth over, a rare placid one bowled by Miraz. Leggi Rishad concedes 10 runs in tenth over. Sri Lanka 110/1 after 10.

Kusal Mendis 48(26)

Kusal Perera 20(18)

Kusal Mendis gets his 16th T20I fifty from 31 balls. Sri Lanka reach 114 for 1 in 11 overs.

Kusal Mendis 50(31)

Kusal Perera 21(19)

Sri Lanka score 118 for 1 after 12 overs. The hosts are heading towards an easy victory, needing 37 runs in 48 balls with nine wickets in hand.

Rishad gets Kusal Perera caught by Liton. Avishka Fernando, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Sri Lanka 120 for 2.

Sri Lanka score 138/2 after 16 overs, need 17 from 24 balls.

Kusal Mendis 66(46)

Avishka Fernando 5(9)

Kusal Mendis departs after a brilliant knock. A leading edge lead to a one-handed stunner at cover by Shamim. Kusal Mendis c Shamim Hossain b Saifuddin 73(51).

Sri Lanka need 5 off 12  

Sri Lanka cavort to win in the first T20I against Bangladesh and take 1-0 lead in the three match series. The hosts beat Bangladesh by seven wickets with 6 balls in hand. Chasing a modest target of 155, the openers posted 78 on the board against Bangladesh.

Opener Kusal Mendis top-scored with 73 off 51 for Sri Lanka and was adjudged man of the match.