All-rounder Janith Liyanage’s stocks in the Sri Lankan set up keep rising as he once again staged a recovery helping the team to post a total of 255 in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Chittagong yesterday.
Liyanage, who made it to the Sri Lankan side after some impressive efforts in domestic cricket with both bat and ball has made it count whenever he has got an opportunity. Although Janith has featured in seven ODIs, he has batted in only four games and has gone on to post three half-centuries.
Walking into bat with the side on 128 for five with 23 overs remaining in the innings, Janith ensured that Sri Lanka didn’t completely fold away adding 69 runs for the sixth wicket with captain Kusal Mendis.
Mendis made a half-century but perished trying to take on the mid-off fielder. Having spotted that the fielder was in the circle, Mendis attempted to hit it over him but couldn’t clear the fielder. The shot was on but the length probably wasn’t there to go for it.
Sri Lanka had got off to a fabulous start with the openers adding 71 runs but some poor shots saw both the openers departing in the space of eight deliveries.
Pathum Nissanka making a comeback to the side looked in great nick racing to 36 off 28 balls with five fours and one six while Avishka Fernando made a run a ball 33 hitting five fours and one six.
Sadeera Samarawickrama fell for three runs and Bangladesh were back in the game after Sri Lanka’s fabulous start.
Both Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed went for plenty in their first spells and it was the introduction of Tanzim Hasan that changed things for Bangladesh as he accounted for both the openers. He was the pick of the bowlers finishing with three for 44.
Eventually Shoriful and Taskin also got their act together finishing with three wickets each. Bangladesh’s strength used to be spin but now their pacers have got their act together and which is why they are playing on tracks with assistance for quicks.
Liyanage’s 67 came off in 69 balls with three fours and two sixes. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 255 with seven balls remaining in their innings.
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