Lankans buckle under Tamim ton

Tamim Iqbal along with Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan cracked match winning knocks to script an emphatic 90- run win for Bangladesh against host Sri Lanka in the first of the three ODI series encounter played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

Ironically never in the history of Sri Lanka’s limited overs cricket, have the hosts scored over three hundred runs and won a game at home. So, for this amateurish Lankan outfit, this score was a task from the inception. It was complete reversal of roles. During the last series the Bangladeshi cricketers were the bunnies, but, this time at the Dambulla Stadium, the Lankans looked very much the amateurs.

Neither, selectors have not been helpful, during the past sixteen matches Sri Lanka have had eight different openers. Then when could they talk about consolidation. It was very evident all seven batsmen who played yesterday, everyone including skipper Tharanga was playing for his place. So, it was evident everyone was playing for himself and not for the team.

This looks a side that has been led on a leash rather than a composition of players who are professional sportsmen.

On the other hand the Bangladeshi cricketers who were spurred by the Test victory in their hundredth game, were the more athletic outfit of the two. They were yards ahead in all departments.

While bat t i n g Thamim Iqbal knew that he had to be the sheet anchor. First he batted along with young Sabbir Rahman. Then when they needed consolidation Tamim batted along with Shakib Al Hasan. Then when were needed at the tail end, Tamim took the Lankan attack by its tail. Bangladesh scored 109 runs in the last ten overs.

In bowling all bowlers knew where they had to keep their line and length.

Things went awry for the Lankans from the beginning. Skipper Upul Tharanga won the toss and put the visitors to bat, and at the time of the toss the Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza also said that had he won the toss he would have done the same. However, Tharanga opined that in the second session the dew factor would play a part on the Dambulla wicket, but, seemingly there was none.

Then there were inexplicable deeds too. One wonders how to explain the presence of both Sachith Pathirana and Milinda Siriwardena playing in the same outfit. Both do the same job, but, yesterday, Siriwardena was not asked to bowl.

Opener Tamim who ended his innings of 127 as the highest individual score made by a Bangladesh player along with Sabbir and the experience Shakib Al Hasan combined with success which laid the foundation for Bangladesh invited to take first lease of the wicket to make a formidable score of 324 for 7 which was their highest score Dhanushka Gunatilleke Upul Tharanga