A maiden century by opener Kusal Perera enabled Sri Lanka to whitewash Bangladesh 3-0 in the three-match ODI series beating Tigers by six wickets in the day-night basis 3rd and last ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.
Replying to Bangladesh’s modest total of 240 for 8, the Lions easily reached their target scoring 246 runs for the loss of four wickets in 47.3 overs.
After the departure of opener Lahiru Thirimanne (18) and one down Kithuruwan Vithanage (9) for 60 runs in 16.1 overs, another opener Kusal Perera pairing with Dinesh Chandimal made a good foundation of the innings scoring 138 runs in the 3rd wicket stand guiding Sri Lanka to 198 for 3 in 39.2 overs.
Kusal Perera scored his first century making 106 runs off 124 deliveries hitting six fours and five sixes before he was bowled by pacer Rubel Hossain. He was adjudged man of the match for his century knock.
Dinesh Chandimal contributed 70-ball 64 runs with four boundaries, Ashan Priyanjan made not out 22 runs off 19 balls including four fours while captain Anjelo Mathews scored 26-ball 20 runs with a six.
Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain claimed two wickets each conceding 38 and 69 runs respectively.
Earlier, sent into bat first, Bangladesh scored a moderate 240 runs for 8 in stipulated 50 overs against touring Sri Lanka in the 3rd game of the three-match ODI series.
Sri Lanka fielded their ODI squad for the first time without three key players — Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan — since 1999 World Cup in England.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh lost their first wicket of Anamul Haque (2) for 17 runs in six overs, but another opener Shamsur Rahman paring with one down Mominul Haque contributed 45 runs in the 2nd wicket partnership to carry team total to 62 for 2 in 16.2 overs.
Mominul Haque (28) shared another good partnership with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (17) adding 46 runs in the 3rd wicket stand.
The entertaining innings of Mominul Haque came to an as he fell victim of run out by a direct hit of Kithuruwan Vithanage scoring run-a-ball 60 with eight boundaries when scoreboard was showing 108 for 3 in 23.5 overs.
Later in the 5th wicket stand, number five batsman Naeem Islam paring with number six Nasir Hossain contributed the innings highest partnership of 54 runs to post 184 for 5 in 40 overs.
Nasir Hossain scored 38 runs off 43 balls with four boundaries, middle order Naeem Islam, who included in the squad in place three-match banned Shakib Al Hasan, made 55-ball 32 runs with one four while skipper Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 30 runs off 37 balls hitting three fours
Besides, opener Shamsur Rahman scored 25 runs off 44 deliveries including two boundaries, lower order Shohag Gazi gave a momentum to Bangladesh innings in the quick-fired 23 runs off just 13 balls featuring three over boundaries while Shafiul Islam made not out 15 runs off 18 balls hitting two fours.
Dhammika Prasad made a happy return to the squad after 2012 claiming three wickets for 49 runs in his 10 overs spell while Suranga Lakmal captured two wickets for 24 runs, also bowling 10 overs.
Thisara Perera and Sachithra Senanayake bagged one wicket each conceding 39 and 46 runs respectively.
I think it’s time for Bangladesh to give up cricket as a bad joke with all the corruption and dirty politics that goes with it. But not before a good explation of what went wrong playing the Lankas.