Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis slammed his sixth ODI hundred, which guided the hosts to a comfortable 99-run victory over Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Kusal Mendis smashed a superb 124 from just 115 deliveries as Sri Lanka amassed 285/7 in the series decider, and that proved too much for Bangladesh as they were bundled out for 186 in reply.With this win, the Islanders clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1, as per the International Cricket Council (ICC) official website.
It saw Sri Lanka clinch a 2-1 series triumph, with Kusal Mendis hitting his sixth ODI century and deservedly named Player of the Series for his 225 runs across the three matches.
For the right-hander, it was a case of redemption as he was dismissed for 56 in the second match of the series in Colombo when well set in Sri Lanka’s run chase as Bangladesh went on to record a series-levelling 16-run win. Kusal Mendis was thrilled to make a contribution to the victory, especially after the disappointment surrounding the loss in the second match of the series.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : This surface looks much different from Colombo. It’s not much drier, it has brown grass which is rolled in nicely. A good pitch for batting with the new ball. 8 times out of 10 times, teams chasing have won here but Sri Lanka are going in with the trend of this series. Teams batting first have won both the games. Conditions are superb, good pitch to bat on, we are in for a thriller, reckons Farveez Maharoof.
Toss : Srilanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and chose to bat with no changes in the Playing XI. Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowling first made one change in the Playing XI bringing in Taskin Ahmed for Hasan Mahmud.
Kusal Mendis gritty 124 and Charith Asalanka’s solid 58 powers SL to 285 in 50 overs.
After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka lost Nishan Madushka early in the innings, who was dismissed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib. After losing his partner, Pathum Nissanka (35 off 47) stabilized the innings with a 56-run stand with Kusal Mendis to keep the scoreboard moving. However, he failed to complete his half-century, falling prey to Tanvir Islam and Kamindu Mendis also departed cheaply to leave Sri Lanka on 100/3.
Opting to bat, Sri Lanka had an early setback as Nishan Madushka, who hit a couple of boundaries, fell to Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the fourth over. A steady partnership between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka ensued as they took Sri Lanka to 51 for 1 after 10 overs.
Sri Lanka, however, slowed down in the subsequent overs as Bangladesh kept it tight and were eventually rewarded when Nissanka’s attempted slog-sweep off Tanvir Islam resulted in a catch. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis then struck a few boundaries but their stand was ended by Mehidy Hasan Miraz who trapped the former in front after Sri Lanka reached 100 in the 21st over.
Kusal Mendis found good support from skipper Asalanka as Bangladesh went without a wicket for close to 20 overs. During this time, the pair raised a brisk century partnership, with Asalanka getting past 50 and Kusal Mendis bringing up a hundred in 95 balls. Barring one missed stumping chance, when the ‘keeper failed to collect the ball cleanly, it was an innings in which Kusal Mendis was in complete control.
The fourth wicket stand, which provided a great platform for Sri Lanka heading into the death overs, yielded 124 runs. It came to an end in the 41st when Asalanka fell to Taskin, trying to hit the ball over long-on, leaving Sri Lanka at 224 for 4. Captain Charith Asalanka (58 off 68) walked in at number five and forged an outstanding 124-run stand with Kusal Mendis.
Kusal Mendis brought up his sixth ODI hundred off 95 balls while Asalanka got to his half-century off 60 balls.The onus was on Kusal Mendis to lead the batting side towards the 300 mark but Bangladesh cut off the scoring opportunities to keep Sri Lanka in check.
Kusal Mendis managed a four off Mehidy in the 45th over after the previous four overs went without a boundary. But in the same over, Janith Liyanage was out hit-wicket, leaving Sri Lanka five down. It became 259 for 7 by the end of the 47th over as Kusal Mendis handed a catch back to Shamim Hossain off a leading edge while Taskin had Wellalage caught at cover off a top-edge.
Hasaranga and Chameera hit three fours between them to take Sri Lanka past 280, although Mustafizur Rahman bowled a good final over, conceding only four runs.Courtesy of their massive stand, Sri Lanka posted a good total of 285/7 in their allotted 50 overs.
Towhid Hridoy’s half century in vain as Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando’s 3-fer floors Bangladesh for 99 runs.
In the second innings, Bangladesh’s chase never got going as they were reduced to 20/2 in 3.5 overs Tanzid Hasan Tamim (17 off 13) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) back in the pavilion.
The chase did not start well for Bangladesh, who lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto inside the first four overs to slip to 20 for 2. Tanzid, who started off with three boundaries, played an Asitha Fernando delivery onto the stumps to depart for 17. Shanto, the former captain, was knocked over by Chameera for a duck. Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy tried to lead Bangladesh’s recovery but their partnership was cut short at 42 as the former was caught at deep mid-wicket off Wellalage, attempting a slog-sweep.
Mehidy then dealt in a flurry of boundaries and even pulled Chameera over mid-wicket for the first six of the match. But Wellalage ended his stay by luring him out of the crease to be caught at long-off. Shamim tried to build a partnership with Hridoy but Sri Lanka made another timely strike as the No. 6 batter was out stumped off Hasaranga, leaving Bangladesh at 124 for 5 in the 28th over.
Only Towhid Hridoy put up a fight but failed to get any support from the remaining batters. As a result, Sri Lanka completed a dominating win and registered their eighth successive ODI series victory.
Hridoy brought up a fighting half-century, off 75 balls, but Bangladesh lost the set batter soon after, with Chameera getting him bowled. The pacer picked up his third wicket by getting Tanzim to edge to the ‘keeper, while Taskin Ahmed was bowled by Fernando as Sri Lanka reduced Bangladesh to 171 for 8. Only 15 more runs were added after that, with Fernando ending Jaker Ali’s stay on 27 while Hasaranga bagged the final wicket to bowl Bangladesh out with 10.2 overs still left in their innings.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Mehidy Hasan Miraz the losing Bangladesh skipper said : We bowled really well in the last 10 overs, the spinners did well too. Wicket was excellent and we discussed about batting positively and we could not get partnerships during the middle overs and also losing a couple wickets at the start didn’t help. Our team is young and there are new players coming in, we always try and stay positive and with more opportunties, they will play well.
Charith Asalanka the winning Sri Lankan skipper said : It was an important game for us and really happy. I thought the pitch was on the slower side and tried to hit boundaries to get some momentum with the bat. Disappointing, after being 220 after 40 overs and we were looking around 300, but we were short by 20 runs.
Kusal Mendis Player of the Match for his 124 runs and Player of the Series for his 225 runs across 3 matches said : Very happy. My batting coach told me yesterday that if I play well, the team is gonna win. Last game we struggled against spin during the middle overs and after that I had a chat with the batting coach and learned how to deal with such situations. Pathum batted really well and Charith supported me really well and the pitch was good to bat on.
Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114, Sri Lanka’s seamers took three wickets apiece, and Sri Lanka surged to a series win, defeating Bangladesh by 99 runs in the deciding ODI.
The centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s batting was the 124-run partnership between Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka, who made 58 off 68. Bangladesh’s bowlers did well either side of that partnership, particularly at the death, conceding only 62 off the last 10 overs.
But Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 was too much, and Sri Lanka’s bowlers too penetrative. Bangladesh never really seemed to be on top of the chase, 20 for 2 in the fourth over, then 62 for 3 in the 14th. Towhid Hridoy made a half-century, but the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh could not mount a substantial enough partnership. They were all out for 186 in the 40th over.
Asitha Fernando was again the best of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, finding three wickets for 33 runs off seven overs, as he continued to target the stumps, as he has done all tour. Dushmantha Chameera attempted the shorter lengths, but found success with the fuller ones, bowling Hridoy with an especially memorable seaming delivery. He finished with 3 for 51 off eight overs. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage took two apiece.
Kusal Mendis’s sixth ODI hundred and a collective bowling effort helped Sri Lanka register their eighth successive series win at home (bilateral ODIs), as they downed Bangladesh by a comfortable margin of 99 runs in the third and final ODI in Pallekele on Tuesday (July 8). Kusal’s 124, along with Charith Asalanka’s 58 set the platform for Sri Lanka’s competitive total of 285 for 7.
In reply, Bangladesh were bowled out for 186, with Towhid Hridoy’s 51 the lone resistance as Dushmantha Chameera (3-51), Asitha Fernando (3-33), Dunith Wellalage (2-33) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2-35) shared the spoils to help Sri Lanka to a 2-1 finish in the ODI series.
Exceptional bowling performance from Sri Lanka, led by their pace duo of Asitha Fernando and Chameera. Kept picking wickets at regular intervals and never allowed Bangladesh to build any sort of momentum. Parvez, Tanzid, Mehidy, and Shamim got starts but all of them failed to convert it into a meaningful contribution. Towhid Hirdoy waged a lone battle and stitched a couple of partnerships, but lacked support from the other end.
Sri Lankan bowlers hit their straps from the start and never let their opponents off the hook. While Chameera amazed with his pace, Asitha displayed his bag of tricks (slower ball variations), sharing six wickets between them while at it. The spin duo of Wellalage and Hasaranga too impressed with their lengths and claimed four between them. A
ll in all, it has been a thoroughly professional performance from the hosts. Despite losing momentum towards the back end with the bat, the bowling department put their hand up and secured a huge win to wrap the series.
Time to pose for the cameras with the trophy now. After failing to chase 249 in the previous game, Sri Lanka stormed a comeback through their man-in-form Kusal Mendis and special mention to their pace duo (Asitha and Chameera) as well. The hosts now have Test series and ODI series in their bag. All eyes will be on the T20I series which will be starting in a couple of days at the same venue.
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