Sabbir Hossain :
Sri Lanka became the champions of the Tri-Nation ODI series beating Bangladesh by 79 runs in the final at the flood-lit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Saturday.
Chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 221 of 50 overs, Bangladesh were all-out for 142 off 41.1 overs.
Bangladesh lost their early three wickets for 22 runs.
Then Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad fought back contributing together 58 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim (22) was caught at the short fine leg by Upul Tharanga off Akila Dananjaya when Bangladesh’s total was 80 for the loss of four wickets.
Then rest of the batsmen of Bangladesh failed to give support to Mahmudullah Riyad. Thus Bangladesh suffered a massive defeat.
Mahmudullah Riyad hit a superb 76. His 92-ball innings was ornamented with three sixes and six fours. Riyad was caught at the extra cover by Upul Tharanga off Shehan Madushanka when Bangladesh’s innings came to an end. It was Riyad’s 18th ODI half century.
Debutante Madushanka fulfilled his hat-trick by taking the wicket of Riyad.
In-form Shakib Al Hasan could not bat as he was injured while he was fielding. In absence of Shakib, Bangladesh paid heavily.
Madushanka grabbed three wickets at the cost of 26 runs, while Dushmantha Chameera and Akila Dananjaya bagged a pair of wickets for 17 and 30 runs respectively.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had a poor start as their opener Danushka Gunathilake (6) was caught at the long-off by Tamim Iqbal off Mehedi Hasan Miraz when Sri Lanka’s total was just eight.
Opener Upul Tharanga and one-down Kusal Mendis put on together 34 runs in the second wicket stand before Kusal Mendis (28) was caught at the mid-on by Mahmudullah Riyad off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when the islanders’ score was 42 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Tharanga and Niroshan Dicwella contributed together 71 runs for the third wicket partnership before Dickwella was caught at the point by Sabbir Rahman off Mohammad Saifuddin when the tourists’ total was 113 for the loss of three wickets.
Dickwella hit a polished 42. His 57-ball innings was studded with four fours.
Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal added together 45 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Tharanga was bowled out by Mustafizur Rahman when Sri Lanka’s score was 158 for the loss of four wickets.
Tharanga knocked a sedate 56. His 99-ball innings had five fours. It was Tharaga’s 37th ODI half century. Tharanga was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding batting performance.
After Tharanga’s dismissal, Thisara Perera (2) was caught at the midwicket by Tamim Iqbal off Rubel Hossain when Sri Lanka’s total was 163 for the loss of five wickets.
Then Sri Lanka failed to make any notable partnership.
Chandimal was bowled out by Rubel Hossain when Sri Lanka’s score was 209 for the loss of seven wickets.
Chandimal hit a captain’s knock of 45.
Earlier, Rubel Hossain trapped leg before wicket Asela Gunaratne (6) when Sri Lanka’s total was 182 for the loss of six wickets.
Akila Dananjaya (17) was caught at the cover by Mohammad Mithun off Mustafizur Rahman when Sri Lanka’s score was 217 for the loss of eight wickets.
Shehan Madushanka (7) was bowled out by Rubel Hossain when the tourists’ total was 219 for the loss of nine wickets.
Then Suranga Lakmal (2) was run out by Mushfiqur Rahim and Sri Lanka’s innings came to an end.
Rubel Hossain captured four wickets at the cost of 45 runs, while Mustafizur Rahman bagged a pair of wickets instead of 29 runs.
Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Mehedi Hasan Miraz took one wicket each for 15, 35 and 53 runs respectively.
