Bangladesh pulled off a landmark victory in Colombo Tuesday night, defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets to clinch their first-ever T20I series win on Sri Lankan soil, wrapping up a dramatic 2–1 comeback in the three-match series.
Sent into the field after losing the toss, the Tigers wasted no time. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan bowled the performance of his life, ripping through Sri Lanka’s middle order to claim 4 for 11 — the best T20I figures by a visiting bowler at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The previous record, held by India’s Harbhajan Singh since 2010, was finally broken.
“I just focused on keeping it tight, and the wickets came,” Mahedi said post-match. “The plan was simple — don’t give them room.”
His efforts limited the hosts to a modest 132 for 7, despite a decent start from Pathum Nissanka (32). The Lankan innings never really recovered from their mid-innings collapse, and it showed.
But the real firepower came in the chase. Young opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, previously more promise than product, finally exploded — hammering 73 not out off 47 balls, including six towering sixes. It was his maiden T20I half-century, and it came at just the right moment.
Tamim barely broke a sweat as he dismantled the Lankan bowling, supported calmly by Soumya Sarkar and later Towhid Hridoy, who iced the chase with a boundary in the 17th over. Bangladesh reached 136 for 2 with 21 balls to spare, making a massive statement.
