Perera ton and Chameera fifer help SL thrash Tigers

After a splendid century by Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Perera, pacer Dushmantha Chameera bagged a fifer to help the visitors thrash Bangladesh by 97 runs in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

Despite the crushing defeat, Bangladesh, however, won the three-match ODI series 2-1 due to their victories in the first two ODIs. 

Chasing a steep 287-run target, Bangladesh were bundled out for 189 runs in 42.3 overs.

Chameera dismantled Bangladesh's top order as he picked up the prized wickets of Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and opener Mohammad Naim inside first 10 overs with just 28 on the board, setting the Tigers on the backfoot in their chase of a challenging target.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mosaddek Hossain tried to rebuild the innings but could never keep up with the increasing run-rate during their steady 56-run fourth-wicket stand. The Tigers' hopes suffered a major blow when batting mainstay Mushfiqur lost his cool and saw himself get caught at long-on in the 24th over after a boundaryless 54-ball 28.  

It was Mushfiqur's 84 and 125 in the first two games respectively that helped the Tigers bounce back from vulnerable situations, but the experienced campaigner could not rescue his side this time around.

Mosaddek got himself a fifty, but the right-hander would be disappointed with the way he perished -- caught at short third man while trying to manufacture a reverse sweep off a Ramesh Mendis delivery in the 32nd over. 

After that, Chameera got back in the action and removed Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed in the same over to complete his fifer. He ended with impressive figures of five for 16 in his nine overs that featured a maiden.  

Mahmudullah Riyad (53 off 63) brought up his 25th ODI fifty but that could not help Tigers avoid a crushing defeat.

Earlier, Sri Lanka skipper Perera survived three dropped catches to smash his sixth ODI ton. The left-hander, who gave the visitors a flying start, was dropped on 66, 79 and 99 before finally being caught by Mahmudullah off a Shoriful Islam delivery in the 40th over after a 122-ball 120, featuring 11 boundaries and a six.

Dhananjaya de Silva scored an unbeaten 70-ball 55 as Sri Lanka ended with a challenging score of 286 for six. 

This win helped Sri Lanka add their first points in the ICC ODI Super League. However, Sri Lanka are still at the bottom of the table with just eight points in six games. 

Bangladesh, who had moved to the summit of the super league table, maintain their stay at the top with 50 points from nine games. 

Mushy departs as Tigers' struggle continues   

With the required rate almost eight an over, Bangladesh's batting mainstay Mushfiqur Rahim lost his cool and saw himself get caught at mid-on while trying to go big as Tigers' trouble in their chase of a steep target compound in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

After 27 overs, Bangladesh scored 104 for four. Mosaddek Hossain (39 off 55) and Mahmudullah Riyad (9 off 15) are out in the middle. 

It was Mushfiqur's 84 and 125 in the first two games respectively that helped the Tigers bounce back from vulnerable situations but the experienced campaigner could not rescue his side this time around. Following a slow-paced 56-run fourth-wicket stand with Mosaddek Hossain, Mushfiqur fell prey to debutant Ramesh Mendis in the 24th over. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman scored a 54-ball 28, a knock that did not feature a single boundary -- a fact that also proves how difficult it has been for Bangladesh batsmen.

Tigers reeling from loss of Tamim, Shakib and Naim

With the wicket of Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal, Sri Lanka pacer Dushmantha Chameera picked his third wicket of the game to set the Tigers on the backfoot in their chase of a steep 287-run target in their third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

After 15 overs, Bangladesh are 49 for three with Mushfiqur Rahim (14 off 32) and Mosaddek Hossain (11 off 20) unbeaten.     

Chameera picked up all the wickets that Tigers lost till now, with Tamim being his latest victim. An outside off slower ball beat the outside edge of Tamim and carried to the wicketkeeper. However, Tamim did review as the bat hit the ground at the same time the ball passed by it. But after a long look during the review, it was revealed that the ball had edged the left-hander's willow. 

Tamim got off to a decent start but could not capitalise on it. He walks back after a steady 29-ball 17 with the Tigers desperately needing a partnership. 

Earlier, Chameera removed opener Mohammad Naim and Shakib Al Hasan for cheap scores.

Naim, Shakib back in the hut early

In chase of a challenging 287-run target, Bangladesh lost two early wickets -- those of opener Mohammad Naim and Shakib Al Hasan -- against Sri Lanka in their third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

After six overs, Bangladesh are struggling at 13 for two with Tamim Iqbal (5 off 15) and Mushfiqur Rahim (2 off 12) at the crease. 

Youngster Naim, who was included in the squad for the final ODI and was called into the playing XI in place of Liton Das following the latter's poor performance, failed to make the opportunity count. Chasing at an outside off delivery of Dushmantha Chameera, Naim edged an easy catch back to slip as the left-hander walked off after scoring just one. 

Chameera struck once again in his next over, removing premier all-rounder Shakib. Shakib was caught at square leg after he failed at an attempted pull. The lean patch for the 34-year-old all-rounder continued as he walked off the pitch after a seven-ball four. 

Shakib scored a slow-paced 15 in the first ODI and went without scoring in the second game.

SL set 287-run target for Bangladesh after Taskin's four-fer

Taskin Ahmed finished with four wickets for 46 runs in nine overs as late wickets and some tight death bowling from Bangladesh did not allow Sri Lanka innings to take flight the way the visitors would have wanted to after an aggressive start. Kusal Perera's 120 off 122 and Dhananjaya de Silva's unbeaten 55 off 70 saw the Lankans reach 286 for six in 50 overs.

Kusal Perera looked to go big over mid off to a Shoriful Islam delivery but the ball caught him higher in the bat than he intended and Mahmudullah Riyad, who dropped him earlier on 99, this time ran back to take a diving catch as his knock came to an end. Niroshan Dickwella then fell to a sharp piece of fielding from Shoriful who hit a direct throw to the striker's end while the Lankans were going for a risky single.

Hasaranga too perished to Taskin as he was holed out at long on before Dhananjaya's late onslaught saw Shoriful concede 18 in the final over.  

Perera survives dropped chances to hit ton

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.

Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Naim in place of Liton 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.