Najmul guides Bangladesh to comfortable win

Najmul Hossain Shanto (BCB)

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto struck an unbeaten century to guide Bangladesh to a comfortable six-wicket win in the first one-day international of a three-match series against Sri Lanka in Chittagong yesterday.
Najmul hit 122 not out of 129 balls, and was ably supported by one of his predecessors as captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, who was unbeaten on 73, as Bangladesh raced to 257-4 in 44.4 overs after bowling out Sri Lanka for 255 runs.
The pair added 165 in their unbroken fifth-wicket stand, saving Bangladesh from a potential mid-innings collapse, coming together at 92-4.
Dilshan Madushanka took two early wickets and Pramod Madushan joined him to leave Bangladesh struggling at 23-3, in a little over five overs.
Najmul put on 69 for the fourth wicket with Mahmudullah Riyad to stave off the initial danger.

Lahiru Kumara broke the partnership by removing Mahmudullah for 37, but Najmul and Mushfiqur denied Sri Lanka further success.
Earlier, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam claimed three wickets each to restrict the Sri Lankan batsmen.
Janith Liyanage top-scored with 67 of 69 balls, after Kusal Mendis made 59 of 75 balls in Sri Lanka’s roller-coaster innings after they elected to bat first.
The visitors got off to a rollicking start with openers Pathum Nissanka (36) and Avishka Fernando (33) adding 71 in less than 10 overs.
Tanzim claimed three wickets in quick succession to slow the flow of runs, finishing with 3-44.
Mendis and Charith Asalanka (18) put on 44 runs for the fourth wicket to prevent a complete collapse.
Liyanage joined Mendis after Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Asalanka. (AFP)