1st T20I: Sri Lanka survive Jaker scare in thriller to go 1-0 up vs Bangladesh

Bangladesh came close, but fell short again, as Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali’s fighting fifties went in vain in the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka as the tourists took 1-0 lead in the series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Mahmudullah returned to the T20I side for the first time since the Asia Cup in 2022, scoring 54 runs off 31 deliveries. Jaker scored his first T20I fifty, giving Bangladesh hope in the last stages of the game. But their heroics would never be enough, as the hosts had already lost their way in their pursuit of 207.

Bangladesh lost early wickets in their massive chase and were never in contention to win the game. Litton Das departed for a duck in the first over, and Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy joined him shortly after, leaving the hosts three down in the fifth over. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto battled in his 20-run innings, particularly when facing Matheesha Pathirana before retiring.

Mahmudullah then formed a connection with Jaker Ali, giving the hosts some optimism. Mahmudullah smashed two boundaries and four maximums in his innings, including one off Pathirana that flew clear of the roof. Jaker took charge after Mahmudullah’s exit, and Bangladesh needed 56 runs from the final four overs to win.

Jaker was joined in the middle by Mahedi Hasan, and the two quickly put together a 65-run partnership. Jaker was the prime aggressor, but Mahedi scored a respectable 16 from 11 deliveries. Jaker scored 68 runs on 34 balls, including four boundaries and six maximums. Bangladesh needed 12 from their last over. They lost Rishad Hossain and Jaker within the first three balls. But Shoriful Islam stepped in and hit a boundary to make it six from the last two balls. Bangladesh’s two middle-order hitters failed to hit a boundary, and the team lost by three runs.