Sri Lanka complete 3-0 series sweep

Sri Lanka complete 3-0 series sweep, hammering Bangladesh by 122 runs in the third and final ODI at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Bangladesh batsmen provided little resistance, falling like ninepins to Sri Lanka bowlers' onslaught with Soumya Sarkar playing a lone hand, scoring a team-high 69 off 86 deliveries in an otherwise dismal innings. Some late blows from Taijul, who scored 39 from 28, took Bangladesh to 172 before Rubel was the final wicket to fall. Dasun Shanaka bagged three wickets and Kasun Rajitha scalped two.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a formidable 294 for 8 with most of the top-order contributing to the cause. Angelo Mathews struck an 90-ball 87 while Kusal Mendis stuck 54 off 58 deliveries.

[Wicket] Bangladesh 172 all out - Rubel Hossain is the final wicket to fall. Sri Lanka win by 122 runs. Rubel Hossain Rubel Hossain run out (†Perera) 2 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

[Wicket] 33.1, Ban 149/9 - Shafiul misses the delivery trying to hit a big one and Perera shows sharp glove work to catch the batsman on the line. Shafiul Islam st †Perera b PWH de Silva 1 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20.00

[Wicket] 31.5, Ban 143/8: Soumya Sarkar b Dananjaya 69 (86b 5x4 1x6) SR: 80.23

A leg-break from Akila Dananjaya decieves Soumya and shatters his stumps. He departs after scoring 69 off 86 balls.

Tigers falling like ninepins

26.4, Ban 117/7 - Wickets continue to tumble as Bangladesh slump to 117 for 7. Leading edge from Mehedi Hasan Miraz's bat and Dhananjaya takes an easy catch. Mehedi Hasan Miraz c sub (DM de Silva) b Kumara 8 (6b 2x4 0x6) SR: 133.33

24.4, Ban 105/6 - Bangladesh lost their sixth witcket as wickets continued to fall like ninepins. Sabbir plays it uppishly and Dhananjaya took an excellent catch diving to his left. Sabbir Rahman c sub (DM de Silva) b Kumara 7 (17b 0x4 0x6) SR: 41.17

23.2, Ban 100/5

Soumya punches a De Silva delivery towards deep point and takes a single. That brings up his fifty off 61 deliveries. The single also brings up hundred for the Tigers. Wait. Did Soumya just score half of Tigers' runs so far? Shows how poorly the other batsmen have played in a game where they have to chase 295.

22.3, Ban 97/3

Sabbir Rahman goes to sweep an Akila Dananjaya delivery but could not connect it. It hits him on the pads and the Sri Lankans go for a loud appeal. Given out by the umpire and Sabbir opts for a review. The review shows the ball touched Sabbir gloves before hitting the pad and decision has been reverted. Sabbir survives.

[Wicket] 19.4, Ban 83/4: Mahmudullah c †Perera b Shanaka 9 (12b 1x4 0x6) SR: 75.00

Mahmudullah Riyad pushes a length ball from Dasun Shanaka and edges it to the wicketkeeper, who takes a one-handed catch. A very bad shot from the experienced campaigner, who will now have to enjoy the rest of the game from the dressing room alongside Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim.   

[Wicket] 15.4, Ban 60/4: Mohammad Mithun c Kumara b Shanaka 4 (11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 36.36

Mohammad Mithun tries to pull a ball from outside off stump and ends up top edging it. The fielder at fine leg takes the catch after an initial fumble. Actually takes it at the fourth attempt. Mithun falls for cheap score, leaving Tigers desperately in need of a partnership. 

Mushy departs with Tigers in deep trouble

[Wicket] 11.6, Ban 46/3: Mushfiqur Rahim c Mendis b Shanaka 10 (15b 1x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Mushfiqur Rahim throws his bat at an outside off delivery and gets an edge. An easy catch for the keeper. A very bad shot from Mushfiqur, who has been in fine touch in the series. Tigers in deep trouble. 

7.6, Ban 29/2 - Bangladesh are in a bit of a bother early in their chase of Sri Lanka's 294 as opener Anamul Haque follows Tamim back to the dressing room. Having hit two back-back boundaries off Rajitha, Anamul went for a lofted shot but did ball loops up in the air up taking a top-edge and Fernando holds his nerves to take a fantastic high catch. Anamul Haque c Fernando b Rajitha 14 (24b 2x4 0x6) SR: 58.33

1.3, Ban 4/1 - Bangladesh have lost their first wicket and it's Tamim Iqbal. The left-hander's poor form with the bat continues. A needless attempt to play a ball away from his body and edges it through to the wicket-keeper. Tamim Iqbal c †Perera b Rajitha 2 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews (R) plays a shot as Bangladeshi wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim (L) during the third one day international (ODI) cricket match of a three-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on July 31. Photo: AFP

Sri Lanka posted 294 for eight against Bangladesh in the final match of the three-match ODI series at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today. 

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews' valiant 90-ball 87 helped Sri Lanka post the mammoth total. After a positive start, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets and were reduced to 98 for three in the 22nd over of the game. Mathews then strung together a 101-run fourth-wicket partnership with Kusal Mendis to get some stability in the innings. Although Mendis was dismissed after scoring 54 in the 42nd over, Mathews went on to stitch another 52-run fifth-wicket stand with Dasun Shanaka. It was however all too late for the Tigers when Soumya Sarkar finally got him caught behind in the final over as the all-rounder already did the damage after being dropped twice -- on 33 and 63 -- early on. Shafiul Islam, who was brilliant at the beginning, lost his rhythm at the death as he was taken for plenty. He ended up with figures of three for 68 in 10 overs.    

[Wicket] 49.2, SL 284/8: A Dananjaya c Sabbir Rahman b Soumya Sarkar 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Sarkar gets two in two. Akila goes inside out for a slog but ends up giving a catch to Sabbir Rahman.

[Wicket] 49.1, SL 284/7: AD Mathews c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Soumya Sarkar 87 (90b 8x4 1x6) SR: 96.66

Angelo Mathews tries to smash an outside off delivery from Soumya Sarkar but gets a faint edge. A magnificent innings comes to an end.

Shafiul dismisses Shehan

[Wicket] 48.4, SL 280/6: GSNFG Jayasuriya c Tamim Iqbal b Shafiul Islam 13 (7b 1x4 1x6) SR: 185.71

An outside off fuller length delivery from Shafiul Islam and Shehan tries to go big. However, he ends up slicing it up in the air and Tamim takes a good catch at cover.

Shafiul removes Shanaka after a good cameo

[Wicket] 46.1, SL 251/5: MD Shanaka c Sabbir Rahman b Shafiul Islam 30 (14b 2x4 2x6) SR: 214.28

This time it is Shanaka, who tries to go over the bowlers head. Sabbir Rahman comes into business again but this times he takes a good catch after running in from long off.

Sabbir drops Mathews on 63

45.3, SL 243/4

Angelo Mathews tries to hit one over the head of the bowler as he gives himself room and goes for a wild slog. The all-rounder gets a top edge and Sabbir Rahman covers a lot of ground and gets under the ball but could not hold on to it. A good effort but it goes in vain. Mathews gets another life on 63. 

42.1, SL 204/4

Angelo Mathews gets an edge off a Rubel Hossain delivery. An outside off fuller length delivery and Mathews tries to play it on the leg side. He gets an edge and it runs for a boundary as there is no slip. He gets to his fifty off 69 deliveries.

Soumya removes Mendis

[Wicket] 41.3, SL 199/4: BKG Mendis c Sabbir Rahman b Soumya Sarkar 54 (58b 5x4 1x6) SR: 93.10

An outside off fuller length delivery from Soumya Sarkar and Kusal Mendis gave his all and goes for a six. However, he loses his body shape and got more elevation than distance. A very well judged catch taken at long on by Sabbir Rahman.

41.1, SL 198/3

A hundred partnership between Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews comes up in 119 balls. A good yorker from Soumya Sarkar but Mendis was able to steal a single.

40.1, SL 194/3

Kusal Mendis brings up his fifty with a six. He swept Taijul Islam over the square leg for a huge six. He took 55 balls to get to his fifty. A timely knock from the batsman.

35.2, SL 167/3

Tamim Iqbal brings back Bangladesh's best bowler of the day, Shafiul Islam in the attack, probably to break the crucial and growing partnership between Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis. The right-arm pacer did induce an edge off Mathews' bat when he tried to glance a ball off his pad. He gets an edge but Mushfiqur Rahim could not hold on to it. A missed chance and Mathews gets a life on 33.

Mathews, Mendis star in fifty-run stand

32.6, SL 148/3

Angelo Mathews takes a single off a Soumya Sarkar delivery. Fifty-run partnership beween Mathews and Kusal Mendis comes up in seventy balls. After a solid start, two quick wickets from Taijul Islam and Rubel Hossain reduced the Islanders to 98 for three in the 22nd over. However, from there, Mendis and Mathews looked solid and strung together a crucial partnership to stable the Sri Lankan innings.   

21.2: SL 98/3 - Tigers start fighting back with two wickets in two overs as Kusal Perera follows skipper Dimuth Karunaratne back to the pavillion after the duo put on 83 runs for the first wicket. Pacer Rubel Hossain bowls one wide of the stumps and Perera goes for a leaden-footed heave, but only manages a thick edge that is gleefully accepted by keeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Perera c Mushfiqur b Rubel 42 (51b, 5x4, 0x6)

20.2: SL 96/2 - Just when it looked like Sri Lanka were running away with the match, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne throws it away with a slog-sweep off Taijul Islam that takes the top edge onto his shoulder and keeper Mushfiqur Rahim takes an easy catch. Karunaratne c Mushfiqur b Taijul 46 (60b, 6x4, 0x6) 

15: SL 62/1 - Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and form batsman Kusal Perera have absorbed the early pressure from a disciplined start from Bangladesh bowlers and have started picking up the scoring rate. 

10: SL 36/1 - For the first time in the series, Bangladesh have been able to keep the Sri Lankan top order quiet as Shafiul Islam bowled a tight line and length and found good support from off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Skipper Tamim Iqbal has also changed the bowlers around, using pacer Rubel Hossain and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam for an over each. All four bowlers hit good areas with the ball and have not yet allowed the Sri Lankans to settle, with Shafiul claiming the wicket of opener Avishka Fernando. 

4.3: SL 13/1-  Pacer Shafiul Islam gets one to seam back in and strike opener Avishka Fernando plumb in front of middle stump as Bangladesh take an early wicket, a rarity in recent times. Fernando lbw b Shafiul 6 (14b, 0x4, 0x6)

Toss

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and chose to bat first in the third ODI against Bangladesh, who suffered the setback of missing out on their main pacer Mustafizur Rahman through injury.

Bangladesh have already lost the three-match series after losing the first two games. 

Skipper Tamim Iqbal said at the toss that Mustafizur sustained an injury during warm-up and that pacer Rubel Hossain will take his place. There was another 'tactical' change in Mosaddek Hossain making way for Anamul Haque.

Teams:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (C), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain 

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara