Sri Lanka clinch series with comfortable seven-wicket win

Sri Lanka have clinched the three-match ODI series 2-0 with one match still to go following their comfortable seven-wicket victory against the Tigers at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Avishka Fernando made short work of Bangladesh’s bowling after the visitors had posted a middling 238 for 8, thanks largely to a gritty unbeaten 98 from Musfiqur Rahim, who held the innings together amidst loss of wickets at regular intervals. Fernando was the aggressor from the off and struck a 75-ball 82 with nine fours and two sixes.

Dimth Karunaratne fell as Mehedi Miraz broke the opening stand in the 12th over but Fernando and Kusal Perera then featured in a second-wicket stand of 58 runs. Mustafizur Rahman got two quick wickets to remove both batsmen and put some pressure on Sri Lanka. However, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews ensured there would be no more hiccups with a 117-run unbeaten partnership to clinch an important series for the hosts. Mathews hit the winning runs to complete his fifty while Mendis remained unbeaten at the other end on 41 as Lankans clinched victory with 32 balls to spare.

35.5, SL 200/3 - Mossadek bowls four wide and that brings up Sri Lanka's 200.

35.3, SL 196/3 - 50 partnership between Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews. The pressure was on this two to carry Sri Lanka after the departure of set batsmen and they have handled things with calm.

28.3, SL 150/3 - A wide from Shafiul brings up the 150 for Sri Lanka. They lost three top-order batsman to reach the mark but still have the upper hand. Two quick wickets have stemmed the flow of runs and both new batsmen try to find their feet in the middle. Still 89 runs required from 21 overs.

24.4, SL 146/3 - Mustafizur bags his second as Kusal Perera is dismissed. A full-length delivery was there to be driven and Perera does just that but Soumya at cover latches onto it. Big breakthrough as Mustafizur has now sent back both set batsman at the crease. Bangladesh have managed to get their foot in before the door slammed shut. MDKJ Perera c Soumya Sarkar b Mustafizur Rahman 30 (34b 3x4 0x6) SR: 88.23

20.4, SL 129/2 - Dangerman Avishka Fernando was sent back my Mustafizur Rahman after scoring 82 runs off 75 balls.Tamim came running to his right from mid-on as the Fernando hit the ball high in the skies of a cutter by Mustafiz. A huge relief for Bangladesh as the Fernando looked to score big. WIA Fernando c Tamim Iqbal b Mustafizur Rahman 82 (75b 9x4 2x6) SR: 109.33

19.1, SL 122/1 - Kusal Perera hit one off Taijul Islam to the covers creating a half chance as Mosaddek Hossain missed the catch. An easy catch if the fielder was near the ropes but Mosaddek was far off from it. A clear chance miss.

12.1, SL 74/1 - Avishka Fernando got his well deserved half century as he took a more attacking approach towards the bowlers compared to his opening partner Karunaratne. This was his second fifty in his international ODI career as Sri Lanka look to chase a total of 238 runs set by Bangladesh. 

11.3, SL 71/1- Mehedi scalped the wicket of Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne as the ball skidded to the bat of the batsman where he got an inside edge to the stumps. A much needed breakthrough as the openers looked to be too comfortable in the middle.  DM Karunaratne b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 15 (29b 1x4 0x6) SR: 51.72

7.5, SL 51/0 - 50 run partnership for Dimuth Karunaratne and Avishka Fernando as Sri Lanka power through. Fernando looked to attack the bowlers whereas the skipper Karunaratne took a rather cautious approach to the game. Pacer Shafiul was hit all over the park as Fernando run riot.

6, SL 33/0- Openers Avishka Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne started strong against Bangladesh as they looked to chase 239 runs. Bangladesh started with a pace and spin combination with Mehdi Miraz and Shafiul Islam bowling from both ends. However, the bowlers were left to scratch their heads as the batsmen looked to up the tempo.

Mushfiqur Rahim during his unbeaten 98. Photo: AFP

End of 50 overs, Ban 238/8 - Bangladesh posted 238 for 8 wickets as Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on a 110-ball 98. Wickets fell around him in regular intervals but Mushfiqur held his own and continued to look for partnerships. He battled his way to a fantastic unbeaten 98 that ensured a middling score for Bangladesh after they had slumped heavily in the middle overs, tottering at 117 for six with 31 overs gone. A brilliant 84-run partnership with Mehedi Miraz saw Bangladesh crawl back into the game. Mehedi fell after scoring 43 and with Taijul Islam as his partner till the last over, Mushfiqur dragged Bangladesh along, often surviving close run out situations. Some witty shots at the end saw Mr. Depandable reach 98 although he fell just 2 runs short of an eighth ODI hundred on a day where he reached the personal landmark of 6,000 ODI runs. His innings was laced with six fours and a six.

49.2, Ban 231/7 - Taijul doesn't connect but the batsmen run anyway. Taijul too busy to see if Mushfiqur reached the other end and Pradeep collects the return and throws it to the non-striker's end Taijul Islam run out (†Perera/Pradeep) 3 (9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

45.3, Ban 201/7 - Mehedi Hasan Miraz misses out on his fifty as a delivery catches him high on the bat and goes to the man at mid off. The brilliant 84-run partnership between Mehedi and Mushfiqur has come to an end. Mehedi Hasan Miraz c Karunaratne b Pradeep 43 (49b 6x4 0x6) SR: 87.75

39.5, Ban 167/6 - A fifty partnership at a very important time for the Tigers as their innings threatened to crumble following wickets at regular intervals. Mehedi Hasan Miraz has partnered Mushfiqur well since coming on getting 25 from 29 deliveries. Fifty partnership in quick time, taking only 48 deliveries.

36.4, Ban 142/6 - Mushfiqur Rahim reaches his 37th ODI fifty amidst the desolation in this second ODI against Sri Lanka. The right-hander already accomplished the landmark of 6,000 ODI runs during his innings today but there is still more work left to be done as Bangladesh have struggled immensely from the start after winning the toss, losing wickets in quite regular intervals. Fifty in 71 deliveries for Mushy.

31.5, Ban 117/6 - Mosaddek edges through to the wicket-keeper and Bangladesh are in real trouble now with Mushfiqur running out of partners. Short ball from Udana and it gained up on Mosaddek slightly.  Mosaddek Hossain c Perera b Udana 13 (27b 0x4 0x6) SR: 48.14

24.3, Ban 88/5 - Sabbir pushes the ball towards point and tries to steal a single that was never on. He has already committed and Mushfiqur's call does not impact the situation. Perera does a fantastic job of collecting the throw and taking off the bails. Third umpire has been called into action and Sabbir is short of his crease. Gone! Sabbir Rahman run out (de Silva/Perera) 11 (19b 2x4 0x6) SR: 57.89

Dananjaya celebrates getting the better of Mahmudullah Riyad during the second ODI. Photo: AFP

18.6, Ban 68/4 -  Dananjaya bags his second of the match. This one turns sharply and Riyad romps back onto his back foot to play it through the off side but misses the delivery and it clips the off stump. Mahmudullah b Dananjaya 6 (18b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

14.3, Ban 52/3 - Mithun chips Dhananjaya in the air and it goes straight to the man at mid wicket who takes an easy catch. Bangladesh are in a bit of trouble after losing three wickets here quite early. Brought up the order in absence of Shakib Al Hasan, Mithun performed in the practice match but is yet to show his mettle in competetive fixtures. Mohammad Mithun c Mendis b Dananjaya 12 (23b 1x4 0x6) SR: 52.17

14.2, Ban 51/2 - Mushfiqur takes a single to become the third Bangladesh batsman to reach 6,000 ODI runs.

8.1, Ban 31/2 - Dragged back onto his stumps. Tamim falls after yet another good start. It was a non-threatening delivery outside the off stump and much like he fell to Mitchell Starc in the World Cup, Tamim hangs his bat at the delivery and the inside edge disturbs the woodwork. Tamim Iqbal b Udana 19 (31b 2x4 0x6) SR: 61.29

5.4, Ban 26/1 - An angled delivery from Pradeep, coming in from wide of the crease and over the wicket, hits Soumya full on his front leg. Umpire raises his finger. Soumya opts not to take the review and walks away. Soumya's form continues. Soumya Sarkar lbw b Pradeep 11 (13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 84.61

1.5, Ban 3/0 - Nuwan Pradeep with a delivery very similar to one that Malinga bowled to Tamim in the first time. That one was a yorker and this one not quite. Tamim digs this one out but there is doubt and Sri Lanka take the review. Third umpire decides it was bat first before the pad and Tamim survives close call. Sri Lanka lose their review early.

Tamim Iqbal during the second ODI against Sri Lanka. Photo: AFP

Toss

Bangladesh have opted to bat first (no surprises there) after winning the toss in the crucial second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium today. 

Having lost the first match of the three-match ODI series, Bangladesh will look to square the series up today, with the third and final ODI to be played at the same venue on July 31.

Sri Lanka, though, will try to complete the series win today, which will be their first series win in 44 months. 

With Lasith Malinga now out of the equation, the Bangladesh batters should have less butterflies in their stomach when they come out to bat.

ESPNCricinfo's Mohammad Isam, formerly of The Daily Star, provided this valuable info for his website: This day last year Tamim Iqbal made his last ODI hundred, in a match-winning effort against West Indies.

Bangladesh team will be hoping that the stand-in skipper finds some form after having disappointed in the World Cup and started the Sri Lanka series with a duck.

The Tigers made one tactical change to their playing eleven, with pacer Rubel Hossain making way for left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, made two changes. One of them forced, with the now-retired Malinga replaced by spinner Akila Dananjaya while out-of-form Thisara Perera has been replaced by Isuru Udana.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal(c), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Perera(w), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara