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Sri Lanka cantered to a five-wicket win after they had bundled out Bangladesh for a meagre total in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, according to Cricinfo.
Despite the drama at the end created by a flurry of Sri Lankan wickets the contest was utterly one-sided. The damage was done right at the start as the Bangladesh batsmen were undone by the new ball.
The Sri Lankan bowlers were helped along by some rash batting as the batsmen flashed at swinging balls, ran down the track, swished, and slogged their way to disaster. With Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan rested for the series, the onus was on the new-ball operators - Ruchira Perera and Farveez Maharoof - to strike. And strike they did, in style. The tall Farveez Maharoof, settled into a nice off-stump line, hit the good length repeatedly, and kept the batsmen guessing by cutting the ball both ways. Perera created a stranglehold by swinging the ball back into the right-hand batsmen and at times making it go with the angle.
Shariar Nafees was first to go, swishing at a full, swinging ball outside off. His partner Rajin Saleh, who started off with a sumptuous cover-driven four, subsequently went into a shell. His defensive mindset was reflected in his footwork: neither stretching fully forward nor back he chose to play from the crease. He succumbed soon to Maharoof, trapped in front to a ball that cut back in. Maharoof didn't have to work too hard for his next wicket, either. Mohammad Ashraful, the hero of that famous win over Australia, perished going for a wild swing. He had walked in amidst huge cheering and walked out leaving a packed stadium very silent. Aftab Ahmad, who had earlier nonchalantly flicked Maharoof over long-leg for a lovely six, fell in a moment of indiscretion. After creaming a full and slightly wide one from Perera over cover for a one-bounce four, he ran down the track and attempted a wild slog, only to be cleaned up. Perera removed Khaled Mashud with one that angled away and the resultant edge was smartly pouched by a diving Kumar Sangakkara.
It was left to a man playing his last match to engineer a fightback for Bangladesh; Khaled Mahmud, a veteran of 76 ODIs, chose to sign off in style. After seeing off the new ball he began to build the momentum. Dilhara Fernando, who induced Habibul Bashar, the captain, to edge behind, was pulled for a stunning six and then slashed for a four. Hasantha Fernando, the debutant, was driven for two fours. Unfortunately for him and his side, he kept losing his partners. Bashar fell, edging to slip off Dilhara, and Mohammad Rafique was bounced out by the same bowler. Finally Mahmud also fell, trapped by Sanath Jayasuriya, as he missed an attempted sweep and left to a standing ovation. Alok Kapali, the allrounder, making a comeback, came to bat at No 9 and was left stranded as the tail folded up.
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