'We will celebrate when we win the series'

The day after one of their best performances in ODIs to defeat home side Sri Lanka by 90 runs yesterday, the Bangladesh cricket team were in a relaxed mood at the fabulous Aliya Resort and Spa in Sigiriya, around ten miles away from the Dambulla town centre.

The victory in the first ODI was only Bangladesh's fifth over Sri Lanka and the role reversals as far as performances seemed to continue into today. The Sri Lanka team bus left for the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in the afternoon for what one imagines will be a demanding practice session. Often, it was the Bangladesh team that would be boarding buses to the ground the day after a walloping in an away match. Today, however, Sri Lanka will have to do the soul and skill-searching after putting in a lamentable display on the field and not showing much fight with the bat.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, were enjoying a rest day in their sprawling resort looking out on the mesmerising peaks of Pidurangala and Sigiriya Lion Rock.

Shakib Al Hasan was spied having lunch, and later Tamim Iqbal was seen roaming around on a bicycle going to one of his teammate's rooms.

But it was the debutant with the Midas touch, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who came out to have a chat with the media personnel who made the trek there and he said something that seemed to perfectly reflect the mindset of the Bangladesh team now.

"We all felt good after winning, but what can I say about celebrating," Miraz said when asked how they celebrated their win. "The game is not over yet. There has only been one match, and if we become satisfied after that then we cannot go forward. We will celebrate only when we win the series."