The right-hander slammed an unbeaten run-a-ball 91 and shared 81 runs with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for the sixth wicket after dashing opener Tamim Iqbal made 45 as Bangladesh reached their target of 242-7 in 49.3 overs in reply to the home side's 241-5.

It could have been a massive blow for the Tigers after their heartbreaking Test performance if they had lost the game and no doubt, the victory gave them some relief ahead of the three-match one-day series. But there was hardly anything encouraging in their performance except for Aftab's well-composed batting.

It was expected that a full-strength national team would come out with flying colours against an opponent comprising only three internationals -- Upul Chandana, Nuwan Kulasekara and Sujeewa de Silva -- but the inexperienced side showed good character in the game.

The second string Sri Lankan cricketers are now playing in England and the under-19s are involved in a tournament and that is why the authority relied on some lesser-known academy players who however looked competitive against strong opponents.

The hosts, especially captain Ian Daniel (58) and Tharanga Paranavithawa (64), batted sensibly after the local side decided to bat first.

But Bangladesh's bowling was also not up to the mark with pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza continuing his poor showing in the tour by giving away 58 runs in 10 fruitless overs.

Only left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was impressive although he went wicketless. Syed Rasel took two wickets for 37 and Shakib Al Hasan claimed two for 41.

The repeating of a familiar top-order collapse saw Bangladesh slump to 96 for five after Shahriar Nafees edged an out-swinger from de Silva to be dismissed for a first ball duck.

Tushar Imran (9) was the next man to go when he was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara's in-swinger while captain Mohammad Ashraful (9) cracked two boundaries before edging one to wicketkeeper Gihan de Silva off pacer Angelo Mathews.

Left-hander Shakib then joined Tamim but failed to forge a partnership as he swept spinner Lasith Fernando to hole out to Mathews at deep square leg after scoring 16.

An embarrassing defeat was in sight when Tamim charged spinner Fernando only to be out stumped for a 69-ball 45 that contained nine boundaries but wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur revived hopes joined Aftab.

A levelheaded Aftab took his team safely to victory and went for the charge only after consolidating his team's position. The Chittagonian struck four boundaries and two sixes in the slog overs.

Mushfiqur was trapped lbw by Kulasekara for 27 but next man Forhad Reza relieved the pressure of a high asking run-rate.

Bangladesh required 65 runs from the last ten overs and Reza, who like Aftab joined the tour just before the game, smashed two sixes against left-arm spinner Chanaka Komasaru in the 45th over during a 25-ball 26 innings to stake claim for a place in one-day team as an all-rounder. He had also taken a wicket with his medium pace.

The first one-dayer will be played at the P Sara tomorrow.