Bangladesh captain Litton Das expressed disappointment following his team’s seven-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the first T20 international at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Despite a solid opening from Parvez Hossain Emon, who provided a good start, Bangladesh was unable to maintain momentum, finishing with a modest score of 154 for 5.
Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, successfully chased down the target in just 19 overs, with Mendis scoring an impressive 73 runs off 51 balls. His partnership with Pathum Nissanka, who added 42 runs from only 16 balls, resulted in a rapid 78-run opening stand that significantly shifted the game’s momentum away from Bangladesh.
Litton commented on the match, stating, “The wicket looked pretty good, but a couple of balls kept low. We’re very disappointed. Whoever batted well needed to keep going.” He emphasized that a score around 170 would have provided the bowlers with a better chance to defend the total.
He specifically acknowledged the bowling performance of Taskin Ahmed, who had an off day, conceding 43 runs without taking a wicket in three overs. “Taskin is our leading bowler, but we understand anyone can have a bad day,” he noted. However, he praised leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for his impressive performance, indicating that his control and skill made it challenging for batters, as he has been improving significantly.
This match serves as a learning opportunity for Bangladesh as they head into the next fixtures, hoping to rectify their batting and bowling strategies. Disappointments like this can motivate teams to enhance their performance, and with key players like Rishad showing promise, there is potential for Bangladesh to rebound in future matches.