Sri Lanka sweeps hapless Bangladesh 3-0

Bangladesh came up with an abysmal performance in all departments yet again to be whitewashed in three-match ODI series as Sri Lanka crushed them by 122 runs in the third and final match at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, reports BSS. 

The hosts capitalized on Bangladesh’s wayward bowling and shoddy fielding to rack up 294-8. Bangladesh however put up a jaded and out-of-sort performance in batting too to leave them in tatters before finally being dismissed for 172 in 36 overs.

This was the fifth time that Sri Lanka inflicted whitewash on Bangladesh and it was overall 27th time the Tigers got whitewashed in their history of bilateral series consisted with three or more matches.

The Tigers earlier lost the first two matches by 91 runs and seven wickets. Angelo Mathews led the charge, hitting a 90 ball-87 after surviving twice on 32 and 63.

In addition to shelling his catch twice, Bangladesh put down five catches in total and came up with a shoddy ground fielding allowing Sri Lanka to score some easy singles and doubles.

Mathews made the most use of his life. When he survived for the first time, thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim by a delivery of Shafiul Islam, he was 32 off 49 and later made 55 runs off just 38 runs, including getting a life on 63 when Sabbir dropped his catch off Mehidy Miraz.

Kusal Menids scored 54 while skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made 46. Kusal Perera chipped-in-with 42.

Bangladesh started well after being sent to bowl first as pace bowler Shafiul Islam broke through, dismissing big-hitter Avishka Fernando for 6.

Karunaratne and Perera shared 83-run for the second wicket before Bangladesh hit back with bang, removing both of the two set batsmen in consecutive overs, leaving Sri Lanka 98-3.

As Bangladesh sensed to take a stranglehold, Mathews and Mendis frustrated them with 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which laid a solid platform of big total.

Occasional bowler Soumya Sarkar broke the steady partnership with the wicket of Mendis who struck five fours and one six in his 54 off58.

Mathews however took the charge and brought up his 40th fifty and third in his fourth match steering Rubel Hossain for boundary past third man region.

He then became more aggressive and accelerated the innings in emphatic fashion to leave Bangladesh bowlers disarray. Before Soumya Sarka got the better of him in the first ball of the last over, he blasted 87 off 90 with eight fours and one six.

Soumya Sarkar and Shafiul Islam claimed three wickets apiece for Bangladesh.

Soumya also played a handy innings in batting too, hitting an 86 ball-69 with five fours and one six with which he broke the jinx of poor form. No. 9 batsman Taijul Islam was the second highest scorer with 39 not out.

But bad patch lingered with Tamim Iqbal who led the side in the series in injury-forced absence of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

After scoring 0 and 19 in the first two games, he this time made just 2 before playing a rash shot against Kasun Rajitha to give catch behind the wicket.

Rajitha then took out Anamul Haque Bijoy, who made 14 in his comeback match.

Dasun Shanaka then triggered middle order collapse, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim (10), Mohammad Mithun (4) and Mahmudullah (9)-all played abject shot to leave the side 83-5 in 20th over to virtually finish any hope of avoiding the whitewash.

Sabbir Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraj fell for single digit to Lahiru Kumara while Soumya kept fighting until Akila Dananjaya dismissed him at the eighth batsman. Wanindu Hasaranga then cleaned up the tail.

Shanak snapped up 3-27 while Kumara and Rajitha grabbed two wickets apiece.