Kusal Perera survived dropped chances to hit his sixth ODI ton.
Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers so far with three wickets but Kusal Perera kept the Lankans on course for a big total after surviving three dropped chances. Perera was dropped on 99 in the 32nd over by Mahmudullah Riyad as he played early to a Mustafizur Rahman cutter and managed to get a leading edge. Mahmudullah, perhaps slow to get off his mark, came running in but could not keep a hold of the ball. Perera worked a single through square leg of the next delivery to bring up his ton. Sri Lanka were 177 for 3 after 32 overs.
Earlier, Perera was dropped twice off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, once on 66 and then on 79. In the 23rd over, Perera went for the reverse sweep and got a slightly leading edge that went to Mustafizur at short third man. The fielder dove forward to but did not manage to keep it his grasp. Perera then looked to go big over mid on in the 25th over but skied the Shakib delivery, however, Afif, who kept running back, could not quite position himself right and dropped what appeared to be a regulation catch.
Taskin strikes twice after Sri Lanka’s aggressive start
Taskin Ahmed struck twice in the 12th over after Sri Lanka openers started aggressively during the Powerplay. Sri Lanka were 82 for 2 after 12 overs after electing to bat in the third ODI at Mirpur.
Having raced to 39, Danushka Gunathilaka looked to play a Taskin delivery across the line through mid-wicket but managed an inside edge that crashed onto the stumps. Pathum Nissanka then edged the last ball of the over to wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Kusal Perera was unbeaten on 40 off 35 deliveries at the other end.
Naim in place of Liton as as SL opt to bat in third ODI
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. The Tigers have already clinched the series 2-0 but with 10 points of the ODI Super League at stake, Bangladesh currently top of the standings will be looking to take all available points and stay on top.
Mohammad Saifuddin, who suffered a concussion in the second ODI and was subsequently replaced by Taskin Ahmed as the first concussion sub in ODIs for Bangladesh, has been replaced by Taskin for the third ODI. The big news is that Liton Das has been excluded from the playing eleven and left-handed Mohammad Naim has been included in his place.
Sri Lanka have brought back Niroshan Dickwella as wicket-keeper while handing debuts to Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne and Binura Fernando. Shanaka, Udana, Sandakan and Ashen Bandara were dropped.
Sri Lanka XI: Kusal Perera (capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dhanajaya Da Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera.
Bangladesh XI: Tamim Iqbal (capt), Mohammad Naim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.