Table of Contents
The rivalry between the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and the Bangladesh National Cricket Team has developed significantly since their first official international meeting in the 1980s. The two Asian teams have competed across Test cricket, One Day Internationals and T20Is, as well as in major tournaments such as the Asia Cup, World Cup and World T20. Sri Lanka enjoyed a substantial advantage during the early years of the rivalry, particularly after Bangladesh gained Test status in 2000. Bangladesh, however, gradually became more competitive and has produced several important victories against Sri Lanka in all three formats.
Their first official ODI meeting came during the 1986 Asia Cup in Kandy, when Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. The first Test between the sides took place in Colombo in 2001, with Sri Lanka winning by an innings and 137 runs. Bangladesh’s first Test victory against Sri Lanka came in 2017 in Colombo, marking an important turning point. Their limited-overs rivalry has also produced memorable matches, including the dramatic 2018 Nidahas Trophy encounter and Bangladesh’s victory over Sri Lanka at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The 2025 all-format tour in Sri Lanka added another chapter, with Sri Lanka winning the Test and ODI series while Bangladesh won the T20I series. This timeline explores the major moments that have shaped the rivalry.
1986 to 2000: The Rivalry Begins
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh first met in an official ODI during the 1986 Asia Cup in Kandy. Bangladesh scored 131 after being sent in to bat, while Sri Lanka reached the target with seven wickets remaining. This was Bangladesh’s first major international tournament and one of its earliest encounters against an established Test nation.
The teams continued to meet in Asia Cup tournaments during the late 1980s and 1990s. Sri Lanka generally controlled these matches, while Bangladesh used the tournaments to gain experience against stronger international sides.
Sri Lanka’s cricketing success expanded rapidly during this period. The team won the 1996 Cricket World Cup and established itself as one of the leading limited-overs teams in the world. Bangladesh, meanwhile, continued developing its domestic structure and international programme.
Bangladesh eventually gained Test status in 2000, becoming the tenth Test-playing nation. This transformed the nature of its rivalry with Sri Lanka because the two countries could now compete in the longest format.
| Year | Competition | Major event |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Asia Cup | First official ODI between the teams |
| 1988 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka wins |
| 1990 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka wins |
| 1995 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka wins |
| 1997 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka wins |
| 2000 | Test status | Bangladesh becomes a Test nation |
2001 to 2008: Sri Lanka Dominates the Early Test Era
The first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh took place in September 2001 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Sri Lanka batted first and declared at 555 for five. Bangladesh struggled in both innings and were eventually defeated by an innings and 137 runs.
Sri Lanka continued to dominate the Test meetings during the early 2000s. Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka in 2002 for a two-Test series and lost both matches. Sri Lanka won the first by an innings and 196 runs and the second by 288 runs.
Bangladesh hosted Sri Lanka in 2005, but Sri Lanka again won both Tests. The visitors also won the two-Test series in Sri Lanka in 2006.
The 2007 tour of Sri Lanka produced another 3–0 Test series victory for the hosts. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, led by players such as Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, consistently created problems for Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
| Period | Test series | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | One Test | Sri Lanka won |
| 2002 | Two Tests | Sri Lanka won 2–0 |
| 2005 | Two Tests | Sri Lanka won 2–0 |
| 2006 | Two Tests | Sri Lanka won 2–0 |
| 2007 | Three Tests | Sri Lanka won 3–0 |
| 2008–09 | Two Tests | Sri Lanka won 2–0 |
Although Bangladesh experienced heavy defeats in many early Test meetings, the team continued gaining experience and gradually became more competitive.
2009 to 2016: Bangladesh’s Development
The period after 2009 saw Bangladesh improve in limited-overs cricket. The team began producing stronger performances against established opponents, particularly in home conditions.
Sri Lanka remained difficult to beat, but Bangladesh increasingly challenged the visitors in ODIs and T20Is. In Test cricket, however, Sri Lanka maintained a substantial advantage.
A memorable Test came in March 2013 at Galle. Bangladesh scored 638 in its first innings, with Mushfiqur Rahim making 200. He became the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test double century. Later in the same match, Mushfiqur also became the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test triple century when he made 200? The match itself was drawn after Sri Lanka declared its second innings at 335 for four.
The encounter demonstrated Bangladesh’s growing batting strength even though Sri Lanka remained the stronger Test side.
The two teams also continued meeting in Asia Cup tournaments. Bangladesh reached the 2012 Asia Cup final, where Pakistan defeated them, while Sri Lanka remained one of the major sides Bangladesh had to overcome in Asian cricket.
2017: Bangladesh’s First Test Victory Over Sri Lanka
A major turning point came in March 2017 during Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka. The teams played the second Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, coinciding with Bangladesh’s 100th Test match.
Bangladesh produced an important performance and won by four wickets. Shakib Al Hasan contributed strongly with both bat and ball, while other members of the Bangladesh team helped secure the historic result.
The victory was Bangladesh’s first Test win over Sri Lanka after years of defeats and draws. It also came during an important period in Bangladesh’s Test development.
Sri Lanka won the first Test of the series at Galle by 259 runs, meaning the two-match series ended 1–1. Bangladesh’s victory prevented another Sri Lankan series win and demonstrated that the balance between the sides was changing.
| Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First Test, 2017 | Galle | Sri Lanka won by 259 runs |
| Second Test, 2017 | Colombo | Bangladesh won by 4 wickets |
| Series | Sri Lanka | Drawn 1–1 |
The Colombo victory remains one of the most important Test milestones in Bangladesh’s cricket history.
2018: The Dramatic Nidahas Trophy Encounter
The 2018 Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka produced one of the most memorable T20I matches between the two countries.
Sri Lanka batted first in the group-stage match at Colombo and scored 214 for six. Bangladesh faced a demanding chase but responded with aggressive batting.
Mushfiqur Rahim played an outstanding innings, scoring an unbeaten 72 from 35 deliveries. Bangladesh reached 215 for five with one ball remaining and won by five wickets.
The match became especially memorable because of the tense final stages. Bangladesh required a large number of runs from the final over and completed the chase under considerable pressure.
The victory also intensified the rivalry because both teams were competing for qualification from the Nidahas Trophy group stage. Bangladesh subsequently reached the final but lost to India.
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 214/6 | Lost |
| Bangladesh | 215/5 | Won |
| Margin | — | Bangladesh won by 5 wickets |
| Bangladesh’s leading scorer | Mushfiqur Rahim 72* | — |
The match remains one of the most memorable T20 encounters in the history of Sri Lanka versus Bangladesh cricket.
2019 to 2023: World Cup Meetings and Controversial Moments
The teams continued to meet in international competitions during this period. Their rivalry became particularly visible during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh played their World Cup match in Delhi on November 6, 2023. Sri Lanka scored 279 after batting first, with Sadeera Samarawickrama contributing 41 and Charith Asalanka scoring 108.
Bangladesh successfully chased the target. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan played important roles as Bangladesh reached 282 for seven and won by three wickets.
The match became widely discussed because of Angelo Mathews’ timed-out dismissal. Mathews arrived at the crease after Sadeera Samarawickrama was dismissed but was unable to be ready to face a ball within the stipulated time. Bangladesh appealed, and the umpire upheld the appeal.
This was the first timed-out dismissal in men’s international cricket. The incident became one of the most unusual moments in World Cup history and added another memorable chapter to the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry.
| World Cup match | Score |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 279 |
| Bangladesh | 282/7 |
| Result | Bangladesh won by 3 wickets |
| Venue | Delhi |
| Key Bangladesh performers | Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto |
| Major incident | Angelo Mathews timed out |
The result gave Bangladesh an important World Cup victory against Sri Lanka.
2024: Sri Lanka Regains Control in Test Cricket
The two sides continued their rivalry in 2024 with an all-format series in Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka won the two-Test series 2–0. In the first Test at Sylhet, Sri Lanka produced a dominant performance and won by 328 runs. Kamindu Mendis played an important role with the bat, while the Sri Lankan bowling attack consistently pressured Bangladesh.
The second Test was played in Chattogram. Sri Lanka won by 192 runs after another strong all-round performance.
Sri Lanka also won the ODI series 2–1. Bangladesh won the second ODI, but Sri Lanka claimed the first and third matches to secure the series.
The T20I series ended 2–1 in favour of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won the first two matches before Bangladesh won the third.
| Format | 2024 series result |
|---|---|
| Tests | Sri Lanka won 2–0 |
| ODIs | Sri Lanka won 2–1 |
| T20Is | Sri Lanka won 2–1 |
The results showed Sri Lanka’s continued strength against Bangladesh across all three formats.
2025: Bangladesh Wins the T20I Series
The 2025 tour of Sri Lanka was another major all-format contest. The schedule featured two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is.
The first Test at Galle ended in a draw. Bangladesh scored 495 in its first innings, while Sri Lanka replied with 485. Bangladesh declared its second innings at 285 for six, but Sri Lanka survived the final day and finished on 72 for four.
Sri Lanka won the second Test at Colombo by an innings and 78 runs, taking the Test series 1–0.
The ODI series also went Sri Lanka’s way. Sri Lanka won the opening match by 77 runs, Bangladesh responded with a 16-run victory in the second ODI, and Sri Lanka won the third by 99 runs. Sri Lanka therefore claimed the ODI series 2–1.
Bangladesh produced its strongest result in the T20I series. Sri Lanka won the first match by seven wickets, but Bangladesh responded with victories in the second and third matches. The visitors won the second T20I by 83 runs and the third by eight wickets, taking the series 2–1.
| Format | Series result | Winning team |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 1–0, one draw | Sri Lanka |
| ODIs | 2–1 | Sri Lanka |
| T20Is | 2–1 | Bangladesh |
The 2025 tour illustrated how the balance of the rivalry can change depending on the format.
Overall Head-to-Head Rivalry and Major Milestones
The history between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh includes several distinct periods. Sri Lanka dominated the early years, especially in Test cricket. Bangladesh gradually improved and began recording important victories in limited-overs cricket before finally securing its first Test victory in 2017.
The 2018 Nidahas Trophy match became a major T20I milestone, while Bangladesh’s 2023 World Cup victory added another important ODI result. Sri Lanka continued to maintain a strong Test record, including series victories in 2024 and 2025.
Across their historical meetings, Sri Lanka has remained ahead in Tests and ODIs, while Bangladesh has produced a number of significant T20I and tournament victories.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | First official ODI meeting |
| 2001 | First Test meeting |
| 2013 | Mushfiqur Rahim scores a historic double century |
| 2017 | Bangladesh wins its first Test against Sri Lanka |
| 2018 | Bangladesh wins dramatic Nidahas Trophy T20I |
| 2023 | Bangladesh defeats Sri Lanka in World Cup |
| 2024 | Sri Lanka wins Test, ODI and T20I series |
| 2025 | Sri Lanka wins Tests and ODIs; Bangladesh wins T20Is |
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Bangladesh National Cricket Team Timeline covers four decades of international cricket and includes important Asia Cup encounters, Test milestones, World Cup matches and dramatic T20I contests. Sri Lanka dominated the early stages of the rivalry, but Bangladesh gradually developed into a much stronger opponent. The 2017 Test victory, 2018 Nidahas Trophy success and 2023 World Cup win were major moments for Bangladesh. Sri Lanka continued to demonstrate its strength in Test and ODI cricket, particularly during the 2024 and 2025 series. The contrasting results across formats have made this an increasingly competitive Asian cricket rivalry.
FAQs
1. When did Sri Lanka and Bangladesh first play each other?
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh first played an official ODI during the 1986 Asia Cup in Kandy. Sri Lanka won that match by seven wickets.
2. When did Bangladesh record its first Test win over Sri Lanka?
Bangladesh recorded its first Test victory over Sri Lanka in March 2017 at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. Bangladesh won the match by four wickets.
3. What happened in the famous 2018 Nidahas Trophy match?
Bangladesh chased Sri Lanka’s total of 214 for six and reached 215 for five with one ball remaining. Mushfiqur Rahim scored an unbeaten 72 from 35 balls, and Bangladesh won by five wickets.
4. Who won the Bangladesh versus Sri Lanka match at the 2023 World Cup?
Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in Delhi. Sri Lanka scored 279, while Bangladesh reached 282 for seven. The match was also notable for Angelo Mathews becoming the first men’s international batter to be dismissed timed out.
5. What was the result of the 2025 Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka won the Test series 1–0 and the ODI series 2–1. Bangladesh won the T20I series 2–1 after recovering from an opening-match defeat.