Pallekele, Sri Lanka, April 1: Opener Kusal Perera struck an aggressive 64 to propel Sri Lanka to a 17-run win over Bangladesh in a Twenty20 match on Sunday.
Batting first, Sri Lanka made a commanding 198 for five wickets in 20 overs after being helped by Perera's 44-ball knock that included four sixes and five boundaries.
Jeevan Mendis needed only 17 balls for his 37, and Thisara Perera just seven deliveries for 22 down the order.
Bangladesh managed 181-7 with Mohammad Ashraful top-scoring with 43.
"As captain, I am happy about my first win," Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said. "Kusal Perera gave us the start and we continued after that. We put up a good total, that is why we won."
Batsman Shamsur Rahman failed to give Bangladesh the required start in its chase on his international debut when he was trapped lbw by Angelo Mathews for a first-ball duck with the team total on nine.
Mathews soon picked up his second wicket with Bangladesh on 27, bowling Jahurul Islam for 11.
A 41-run stand off 30 deliveries followed between Ashraful and captain Mushfiqur Rahim, before Ashraful was controversially given out lbw to a delivery from Thisara Perera that struck him outside the leg stump line.
Ashraful hit two sixes and four boundaries off 27 deliveries. Rahim hit a six and three boundaries for a 29-ball 39.
Mathews and Thisara Perera picked up two wickets each for Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka's innings, Perera and Dilshan Munaweera made a quick start, adding 32 in 16 deliveries before offspinner Mahmudullah had Munaweera caught behind by Rahim.
Bangladesh's spinners controlled the run-flow mid-innings, reducing the hosts to 166-5 in almost 18 overs before Sri Lankans scored 32 in the last 13 deliveries.
Mahmudullah returned the best bowling figures for Bangladesh, taking 1-28.
