Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh recorded an easy 33-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first One Day International (ODI) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on April 23. Then the hosts posted a massive 103-run victory over the tourists in the second ODI at the same venue on April 25. But Bangladesh suddenly tasted a massive 109-run loss to Sri Lanka in the last ODI at the same venue on April 28.
The hosts showed a satisfactory performance in two departments (batting & bowling) in the first two ODI matches. ‘ Mr Dependable’ Mushfiqur Rahim showed consistent batting performance in the first two ODIs. He made 84 runs in the first ODI and notched up a sparkle125 in the second ODI. But unfortunately he scored just 28 runs in the third ODI. His failure in the third ODI was one of the cause for Bangladesh’s lost in the final ODI. The top-order batsmen also failed to keep their temperament in the third ODI which was the other cause to taste a massive defeat in the last ODI. Besides, in-form consistent bowlers off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman failed to shoe with the cherry in the last ODI. Miraz claimed four wickets at the cost of 30 runs in the first ODI, captured three wickets in the space of 28 runs in the second ODI. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman grabbed three wickets instead of 34 runs in the first ODI, picked up three wickets for just 16 runs.
But later, Miraz and Mustafiz failed to perform economic bowling in the third ODI. They also failed to capture any wicket in the last ODI.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh team’s most important weapon all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was totally flopped in the last ODI. Besides, he failed to show a consistent performance in the first ODI and also second ODIs.
However, Bangladesh won the ODI series against Sri Lanka for the first time. It was the pride for the Red-and-Green outfit.
