Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka starred as Sri Lanka comfortably dismantled Bangladesh to record a seven-wicket victory in their first T20I.

Sri Lanka started strong and Bangladesh did not have any answers, with the hosts taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bangladesh started strongly, with Parvez Hossain Emon (38) and Tanzid Hasan (16) putting together a 46-run partnership for the first wicket.

However, Litton Das (six) was trapped lbw at the end of the eighth over, with Emon following shortly after to put the tourists on the back foot.

Mohammad Naim's unbeaten 32 pushed Bangladesh forward, with help from Mehidy Hasan Miraz's 29, but they could only reach 154-5 from their 20 overs.

And Sri Lanka made light work of the chase, with Nissanka plundering a 16-ball 42 before being dismissed by Mehidy, while Kusal did the heavy lifting with his 73.

Kusal Perera added 24, but it was Charith Asalanka's six that got Sri Lanka past their target as they finished on 159-3 to start the series on the ideal note.

VICTORY! We've beaten Bangladesh by 7 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series!

What a start to the series! Onwards and upwards, boys! #SLvBAN #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/jeBfiOaI7g
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) July 10, 2025

Data Debrief: Quick out of the blocks

It was an exemplary start from the Kusal-Nissanka partnership as they plundered 78 runs off 28 balls combined at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where Sri Lanka had not won their last three T20Is.

But most impressively, they racked up 30 off six balls, as they hit six consecutive boundaries between overs 2.4 and 3.3. It was a stark contrast to Bangladesh, who struggled with the bat for large parts. They endured a 60-ball stretch in which they scored only 65 runs as they slumped to 122-4 by the end of the 17th over.

Bangladesh have only won one of their last five multigame bilateral T20I series (L4), and if Sri Lanka turn in another performance like this one, then that recoded will likely be five defeats out of six.