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Best Powerplay For SL In T20Is! Mendis-Nissanka Destroy Bangladesh In Pallekele

Aashay Chopade

Nissanka and Mendis in partnership (Source:@ThurunuJ/X.com)Nissanka and Mendis in partnership (Source:@ThurunuJ/X.com)

Sri Lanka have beaten Bangladesh comprehensively by seven wickets in the first T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh made 154 after being asked to bat first, and in reply, the Sri Lankan openers ensured that the home team did not give an inch to the visitors in the second half.

Nissanka And Mendis Continue Good Form vs Bangladesh

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis both scored runs in the ODI series and carried that confidence in this game too. They stitched together a stand of 78 runs in just 28 balls before Nissanka fell at a score of 46 from 18 balls. He hit five fours and three sixes in his knock and has continued his great consistency across formats.

Eventually, Sri Lanka managed to score 83 runs in their initial six overs, registering their highest-ever Powerplay score in T20Is. Kusal Mendis was batting on 38 off 15 balls at the end of those six overs and went onto score 73 from 51 balls. The wicketkeeper batter also hit the same number of boundaries as Nissanka in his knock, and lost his wicket with just seven runs more needed to win.

Sri Lanka's previous best Powerplay score was 75, which they registered against India in the 2018 series. The third-highest Powerplay score for Sri Lanka in T20Is is 72, which was achieved two years ago in Auckland.

Most Runs Scored by Sri Lanka in Powerplay in a T20I:

  • 83/1 vs Bangladesh, Pallekele, 2025
  • 75/2 vs India, Colombo, 2018
  • 72/3 vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2023

Overall, the duo of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka has created history in the first T20I and will be looking to continue this form in the upcoming matches. The second game will be played in Dambulla on Sunday, July 13.