Sri Lanka take 1-0 lead after Bangladesh batting debacle

Run out sparks sensational collapse — 7 wickets fall for 5 runs

- By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

BANGLADESH suffered one of the most remarkable batting collapses in ODI history, losing seven wickets for five runs off 26 balls to hand Sri Lanka the first ODI on a platter by 77 runs at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The win saw Sri Lanka take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Upto that point, Bangladesh had the game under their control, having bowled Sri Lanka out for 244 in 49.2 overs, and then reached 100-1 with Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain batting with so much ease that it looked like a one-way traffic.

However, they say that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and what happened in the next 30 minutes was unthinkable. Sri Lanka were desperate for a breakthrough and, try as they might, their bowlers could not simply split the partnership.

But one run out is what it all took to trigger a collapse. Najmul tested the throwing arm of debutant Milan Rathnayake and, risking a second run, was run out for 23, falling short by an inch.