Delhi: In the first match of the three matches played at Pallekele’s International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Sri Lanka defeated the visiting team Bangladesh by 7 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Batting first after losing the toss, Bangladesh scored 154 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs, in response to which Sri Lanka achieved the target by losing 3 wickets in 19 overs.

Kusal Mendis’s explosive batting

Wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Mendis played an important role in Sri Lanka’s victory. Starting the innings, he played a stormy half -century of 73 runs in 51 balls. During this, Kusal hit five fours and three magnificent sixes at a strike rate of 143.14. He was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for this innings.

Mendis equals in special records in T20 format

Kusal Mendis also made an important record in T20 International cricket for Sri Lanka. He has become the first player to become the ‘Player of the Match’ most in the T20 format for Sri Lanka. Prior to him, this achievement was only in the name of Kusal Perera, who received this honor 8 times. Now Mendis has also equaled this figure.

Mendis has played 79 T20 International matches for Sri Lanka, in which he has scored a total of 1993 runs at an average of 26.22. During this time he has 16 half -centuries recorded and his highest personal score has been 86 runs. On the other hand, with this victory, Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.