Bangladesh narrowly escaped a huge blow during the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Dhaka after left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman had to leave the field during the 39th over.
Mustafizur fell down during his followthrough on the sixth delivery of the 39th over that eventually went for a wide. With the visuals, it looked as it was his calf that was troubling and the fast bowler was taken off the field.
He later came back on the field and picked up two wickets to seal the first game for the hosts in the first match of the series. Fizz dismissed Isuru Udana and Dushmantha Chameera to give Bangladesh a victory by the margin of 33 runs.
Earlier in the day, after batting first, Bangladesh compiled a total of 257/6 in 50 overs. The hosts lost opener Liton Das early in the innings but Tamim Iqbal and Shakib steadied the ship for the side to put up a partnership of 38 runs for the second wicket. Shakib after his struggling innings of 15 runs went back to the hut while Tamim continued with his form and notched up a half-century.
But a couple of wickets on the trot pushed the home side on the backfoot. Bangladesh were 99/4 when Mushfiqur Rahim was joined by Mahmudullah and the two batsmen then stitched a stand of 109 runs for the fifth wicket.
Mahmudullah scored 54 while Rahim notched up 84 during the course. Dhananjaya de Silva was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he scalped a three-for and eventually returned with figures of 3/45 in 10 overs.
The remaining two matches of the three-match series will take place on Tuesday and Friday respectively at the same venue.
The ODI series between the two teams was under dark clouds after three members of the Sri Lankan contingent and Bangladesh team’s bus driver had tested positive for Covid-19.
The three members included Shiran Fernando, Chaminda Vaas and Isuru Udana. Vaas and Udana had returned with positive tests on Saturday and then with negative tests on Sunday while Fernando returned with positive results on both instances and has been put into isolation.