SL VS BAN - 1st T20I, Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka, 2017

The Test and the ODI series ended with the scoreline reading 1-1. Will we head towards the same result? For that to happen, the Bangladesh players need to pull up their socks, as they have struggled the most in the shortest format. On the other hand, the islanders will be eager to win this T20I series. A cracking encounter, for one last time awaits us on Thursday. Do join us there. Until then, it's a goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran, Vineet Anantharaman and Naga. Take care!!

Kusal Perera, Man of the Match: "I tried to finish the game, but couldn't. Had a couple of injuries, recovered and tried to do my best. Every player has a bad patch. We have to trust and back ourselves. We have to win one more match to win the series."

Upul Tharanga: "We played well, like in the last two series. Lasith Malinga is one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment. Kusal played really well. He was out of the team with injury. The way he played was amazing. Malinga shares information with the guys in bowling as batting. He knows what to do. It's a plus for me as a captain. I got a start today, but I need to continue and score big like Kusal Perera did."

Mashrafe Mortaza: "We batted well in the first 6 overs. Lost four wickets in the middle and that wasn't good. Mosaddek and Mahmudullah batted really well to post 155. But, this was a 170 track. Lot of cricket left. Boys have to show their character like they did in the Tests, when we lost the first match."

Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in the 2-match T20I series. 155 was always a tough one to defend, and specially when you don't get wickets upfront, it makes the task even more difficult. Tharanga started off on a positive note and Kusal Perara took his time to settle down. One he got his eye in, there was none stopping him. He was involved in a 65-run opening stand with his skipper that set the tone. Mashrafe Mortaza did strike twice in two overs to pull things back, but that wasn't enough. Prasanna at No. 5 provided a cameo that put off any thoughts of a Bangladesh win. A couple of lusty blows from the leggie and a 53-ball 77 from Kusal Perera helped the hosts register their second win at the R Premadasa Stadium in twelve outings.

Taskin Ahmed to Thisara Perera, FOUR, Thisara Perera finishes it off in style. He gets a full toss and the southpaw easily lifts it over the bowler's end. One bounce and into the fence

Taskin Ahmed to Prasanna, 1 run, very full, Prasanna drills it down the ground and gets it just past the bowler and settles for a single

Taskin Ahmed to Prasanna, SIX, Malinga is jubilant in the dug out. A low full toss and Prasanna tonks it over long-on for a six and the Lankans need just 3 to win

Taskin Ahmed to Prasanna, no run, a wild swing across the line against this pacy length ball. Misses the ball by some distance

Thisara Perera, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Taskin Ahmed to Kusal Perera, out Caught by Soumya Sarkar!! In the air and taken! End of a fine knock. The bumper from Taskin Ahmed does the trick. Perera is surprised not just by the length, but by the pace as well. He is in no position to play the pull shot, but still persists with it. Gets a top edge that goes miles in the air and settles into the safe hands of Sarkar who runs across from mid-off. Kusal Perera c Soumya Sarkar b Taskin Ahmed 77(53) [4s-9 6s-1]

Taskin Ahmed to Kusal Perera, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Taskin Ahmed [2.0-0-22-0] is back into the attack

Mustafizur to Prasanna, SIX, wow! This will settle the nerves in the Lankan dug-out. Six off the final ball of the over spoils what looked like an excellent over. Prasanna crouches low and launches this fuller length delivery over cow corner for a maximum. Huge hit

Mustafizur to Kusal Perera, 1 run, this guy - Mustafizur Rahman - gets away even by bowling full tosses. Perera mishits the heave to deep mid-wicket

Mustafizur to Prasanna, 1 run, full and wide outside off, drilled to long-off

Mustafizur to Prasanna, no run, slants this across the right-hander. Prasanna swings his bat hard at it and gets beaten by a long way on the outside edge

Mustafizur to Prasanna, no run, ah! Change of pace from Rahman and Prasanna is completely foxed by it. He looks to ramp it fine and gets beaten as the ball tweaks away past the outside edge

Mustafizur to Prasanna, no run, Fizz starts with a 136kph low full toss, Prasanna is watchful in his push towards cover

Mustafizur Rahman [2.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack