Kulasekara traps Tigers

Five of Bangladesh's top seven batsmen failed to reach double digits as they suffered a 70-run defeat at the hands of a Nuwan Kulasekara-inspired Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI at Colombo on Saturday.

The loss means the Tigers blew the chance to record a ODI series victory over the Lions and the three-game affair ended 1-1. The second game was abandoned due to rain after Bangladesh had won the first match.

Chasing 281, the Tigers lost opener Tamim Iqbal in the very first over, the left-handed batsman returning a catch to Kulasekara. The bowler struck again in his next over, this time Sabbir Rahman was caught behind.

In the following over, Mushfiqur Rahim was trapped leg before by Suranga Lakmal and the Tigers were down to 11 for 3. Shakib Al Hasan and Soumya Sarkar (38) then added 77 runs in the fourth wicket to repair the damage, but once Dilruwan Perera got the latter stumped in a wonderful delivery, Bangladesh started losing wickets again.

Top-scorer Shakib soon followed suit, his 54-run innings also brought to an end by Dilruwan. The likes of Mahmudullah and Mosaddesk Hossain also fell cheaply, but Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed added 54 runs in the ninth wicket partnership to save the team from further humiliation.

Miraz made 51 in 71 balls thanks to six fours before Kulasekara returned in the 45th over to remove both of them to bundle the visitors out.

Kulasekara ended the game with four wickets for 37 while Lakmal, Dilruwan and Seekkuge Prasanna claimed two each to flatten the Tigers.

Earlier, fifties from Kusal Mendis and Thisara Perera on the back of a 76-run opening partnership between Danushka Gunathilaka and Upul Tharanga helped Sri Lanka post 280.

Put into bat first, the hosts openers were in an aggressive mood in a game they needed to win to salvage the series.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz gave his captain the breakthrough when he made Gunathilaka (34) give a catch to Mahmudullah while three overs later Taskin Ahmed, who grabbed a hattrick in the abandoned second ODI, bowled SL skipper Tharanga (35).

Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal then added 49 runs, but two run outs in quick succession derailed their charge again. Up came Thisara Perera, hitting 52 off 40 balls to take the hosts past 250. The match was won here, and no wonder he was adjudged the 'Man of the Match'.

Asela Gunaratne also added 34 in the middle, as the Lankans ended on 250 for 9.

Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was the most successful Bangladesh bowler, although his three wickets came at a cost of 65 runs. Mustafizur Rahman bagged a brace to give his captain due support.

Kusal Mendis was named the Player of the Series thanks to his century in the second game and today's fifty.

The teams will now set their sights on the two-game T20s series, to be played on 4 and 6 April.

Source: Prothom Alo