Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI: 5 Talking Points

It was a thoroughly professional performance by the home team Sri Lanka in the 3rd and decisive encounter at the SSC Stadium in Colombo as they defeated the Bangla Tigers quite comprehensively by 70 runs to level the 3 match series 1-1. Riding on useful half-centuries by Kusal Mendis and Thisara Perera, the hosts posted a competitive 280 on the board in their allotted 50 overs.

The visitors never really recovered from their early jolts as they were reduced to 11/3 in the 4th over. Impressive half-centuries by Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraj wasn’t enough for Bangladesh as they eventually fell 70 runs short of the victory. It was a terrific display by the Sri Lankan bowlers as they denied Bangladesh their maiden opportunity to win a series on foreign soil against any top notch team.

That said here we have a look at 5 Talking Points from the final ODI in Colombo

1. Kusal Mendis continues to impress

The youngster Kusal Mendis who is definitely one of the major future prospects for Sri Lanka continued to impress as he chipped in with yet another half-century in his brief career. The middle-order batsman walked out in the middle after the loss Danushka Gunathilaka after the openers got the home team off to a flying start.

He began with a cautious approach and scored only 7 runs in his first 24 deliveries. He struck his first boundary in the 19th over and followed it up with one more in the same over. He started growing in confidence and rotated the strike along to keep the scoreboard ticking. He was eventually dismissed by cutter specialist Mustafizur Rahman after Mendis had just completed his half-century.

2. Thisara Perera smashes a quickfire half-century

It was the innings from the hard-hitting southpaw which propelled the Sri Lankan score in excess of 300. Coming out to bat in the 37th over, Perera took on the Bangladesh bowlers by the scruff of the neck and started belting them all around Colombo. It was a sensational innings on the perspective of both the match and the series.

He got off to a slow start but regained momentum through the course of the innings. He smashed a couple of boundaries of Mustafizur Rahman in the 45th over to announce his arrival. The big hits started coming thick and fast from Perera’s blade as he raced to his half-century in just 37 deliveries. His knock of 52 of 40 deliveries included 4 fours and a solitary six.

3. Dinesh Chandimal’s careless run-out

Veteran batsman Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed in bizarre circumstances as the utter carelessness from the right-hander cost him and the team dearly. With the score at 137/2, Chandimal cover drove a delivery from Shakib towards the cover region. There was an easy two in it and the duo should have completed the single with utmost ease.

Just as Chandimal was about to complete his 2nd run he neither slid his bat nor kept his foot on the ground. Despite the foot and the bat crossing the popping crease, both were up in the air when Mushfiqur Rahim dislodged the bails. After speculations, the 3rd umpire ruled the decision in favour of the bowling team.

4.  Shakib Al Hasan wages lone battle

Arguably the greatest all-rounder in world cricket at the moment, Shakib Al Hasan chipped in with a fine half-century but his valiant efforts went in vain as the visitors lost the final ODI to quash their chances of winning their maiden series on the Sri Lankan shores. The southpaw came out to the middle when the visitors were in dire straight after being reduced to 11/3 in the opening 4 overs.

The left-hander struck his first boundary of Nuwan Kulasekara in the 9th over and looked in good touch. He kept on smashing boundaries and took on the Sri Lankan bowlers with disdain. Immediately after completing his half-century the experienced batsman gave away his wicket to Thisara Perera as Bangladesh put the final nails in their coffin.

5. Nuwan Kulasekara and his impressive returns

The medium pacer was all over Bangladesh during their run chase and finished with impressive figures of 4/37 in 7.2 overs. He was sensational with the new ball upfront and reduced the visitors to 10/2 in the first 3 overs. His first wicket came in the opening over when Tamim Iqbal edged a swinging delivery straight to the slip fielder.

The 2nd wicket came in the very next over as Sabbir Rahman played a horrendous shot and was hold out by Dinesh Chandimal behind the stumps. He came back strongly in his final spell and added two more wickets to his kitty by dismissing half-centurion Mehedi Hasan and Taskin Ahmed.