DALLAS, June 8, 2024 (BSS)—Bangladesh bowlers put a disciplined bowling effort to keep the side on the verge of a victory against Sri Lanka in its T20 World Cup opening game today at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

Pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3-17) and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (3-22) claimed three wickets apiece as Sri Lanka put up a mediocre 124-9. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who is playing his first game after recovering from the injury grabbed 2-25 while another pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib took 1-24.

Bangladesh won the all important toss and as it was expected they put Sri Lanka into bat first in slow-paced wicket. But Sri Lanka made a fluent start with Pathum Nissanka tearing apart Bangladesh bowlers in a sensational batting.

Nissanka made team-best 47 off 28 with seven fours and one six.

However, Taskin Ahmed broke through with the wicket of Kusal Mendis (10) who struck him consecutive two boundaries.

The introduction of Mustafizur brought Bangladesh back to the game as he got rid of Kamindu Mendis (4) and Nissanka in his consecutive overs.

With Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka giving Sri Lanka the ray of hope to regroup, Rishad dismantled them in a career-best bowling effort that saw him taking three wickets for just 22 runs.

Dhananjaya made 21 while Asalanka contributed 19.

Sri Lanka could never recover from the collapse as they lost wickets in clusters to be bowled out for a below par total.

Bangladesh's journey in T20 World Cups had started with a bang in 2007 when they notched up a convincing win over the West Indies in their opening match of the tournament in South Africa.

However, that win against West Indies remains Bangladesh's only victory over a higher-ranked team in the tournament so far.