Dilshan powers Sri Lanka to 8-wicket win

Bangladesh hope to bounce back in second ODI today.

HAMBANTOTA: Tillakaratne Dilshan hammered an unbeaten 113 to fire Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first one-dayer on Saturday.

The opener hit 11 fours in his 15th One-Day century as Sri Lanka, chasing a revised target of 238 in 41 overs following a power failure, won the day-night match in Hambantota with 32 balls to spare for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Dilshan also upstaged Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal who scored an impressive 112 for his fourth One-Day ton to prop up the innings, briefly halted by a swarm of bees in the afternoon that forced some of the players to lie on the ground.

The play was held up for more than 90 minutes due to the power failure, first during the Bangladeshi innings and then before the start of Sri Lanka’s chase.

“We were a bit complacent on the field and a bit wayward with the ball, but we covered it up with our batting,” said Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews.

Tamim, who became the first Bangladeshi to score a hundred against Sri Lanka in One-Day internationals, hit one six and 10 fours to lead Bangladesh’s recovery after three wickets had fallen for 63 in the opening 13 overs.

“We played half of the game really well but didn’t bowl well. We scored very well on a pitch that was not easy earlier,” said Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim.

The second one-dayer will be played in Hambantota today.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2013.