Charith Asalanka starred for Sri Lanka as his century led them to victory in their first ODI clash with Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

The Sri Lanka captain plundered 106 off 123 deliveries to help his side win by 77 runs, while Wanindu Hasaranga also played his part with a brilliant display with the ball. 

The hosts opted to bat after winning the toss but got off to a poor start when Pathum Nissanka (0), Nishan Madushka (six), and Kamindu Mendis (0) fell inside the first seven overs, leaving Sri Lanka 29-3. 

But Kusal Mendis (45) helped steady the ship alongside Asalanka, but Janith Liyanage (29), Milan Rathnayake (22) and Hasaranga (22) all failed to build on good starts.

Asalanka managed to remain at the crease until the final over before being removed by Tanzim Hasan Shakib (3-45), with Sri Lanka setting a target of 245 to win.

Tanzid Hasan (62) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (23) got the visitors off to a good start before an almighty collapse.

Bangladesh went from 100-1 to 125-9 thanks to four wickets from Hasaranga and three from Kamindu Mendis (3-19), as Sri Lanka bowled their opponents out for 167.

First Blood to Sri Lanka! 

Brilliant display by our Lions! Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 77 runs and take 1-0 lead in the ODI series! On to the next one!#SLvBAN #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/cwO4LSnHpl

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) July 2, 2025

Data Debrief: Asalanka leads by example in the capital

Sri Lanka will be thanking captain Asalanka for his performance, which featured six fours and four maximums at one of his favoured grounds. 

Indeed, he has scored 1,002 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium, the ninth-highest on the all-time list in ODI's. 

It was also his fourth century at the venue, joining Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli with the joint-most hundreds at the stadium in Colombo. 

But the hosts were helped by Bangladesh's sensational collapse. Indeed, the five runs they added from the fall of the second wicket to the eighth was the lowest in ODI history.