Bangladesh lost the tri-nation ODI series conceding a 79-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday, reports UNB.
This is for the 3rd time that the Tigers suffered defeat in the finals of an ODI tournament after conceding a two-wicket loss against Sri Lanka in the tri-nation series in Dhaka in 2009 and a narrow two-run defeat against Pakistan in the Asia Cup Cricket in 2012 in Dhaka.
In the day's match, chasing a target of 222 runs, Shakib Al Hasan-less Tigers finished on 142/10 in 41.1 overs where Mahmudullah Riyad hammered a half century of 76 off 92 balls, including six boundaries and three sixes, to be the only notable scorer for the hosts side.
Mahmudullah shared a partnership of 58 off 13.2 overs with Mushfiqur Rahim in the 4th wicket stand to carry the team total to 80/4 in 22.4 overs, recovering the Tigers' early loss of 22/3 in 9.2 overs.
Mushfiqur (22 off 40b; 1x4) was caught by Upul Tharanga off Akila Dananjaya to depart from the 4th stand.
Shehan Madushanka made a hat-trick on his international debut capturing wickets - skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Rubel Hossain and Mahmudullah -conceding 26 runs in 6.1 overs.
Dushmantha Chameera and Akila Dananjaya bagged two wickets each for 17 and 30 runs in eight and nine overs respectively. Bangladesh suffered an early batting collapse in their innings losing three top-order batsmen - Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mithun (10 off 27b; 1x6) and Sabbir-for 22/3 in 9.2 overs.
Sabbir was caught by Asela Gunaratne off Dushmantha Chameera who also found dependable opener Tamim for the first breakthrough on 11/1 in 5.3 overs.
Tamim was caught by Akila Dananjaya while Mithun was run out adding 10 off 27 balls with a six, leaving the team collection on 17/2 in 8.1 overs.
Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka scored 221 for all in 50 overs spurred by Upul Tharanga's top-scoring 56 off 99 balls, including five boundaries.
The Tigers missed out their all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as was hospitalised with a finger injury what he suffered during fielding when Sri Lankans were on 175/5 in 41.1 overs. Shakib was taken to Apollo Hospitals Dhaka for a scan on his finger and he needed stitches which ruled him out of the rest of the match, said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) physician Debashish Chowdhury.
Mustafizur delivered the 1st ball of innings 42nd over to skipper Dinesh Chandimal, who hammered it angling across to off stump, Shakib sprinted in from extra-cover area before throwing himself forward to pick up and scoop to the bowler's end, but landed awkwardly to hurt him in some way.
Cutter master Mustafizur Rahman bowled out Upul Tharanga on Lankans 158/4 in 35.3 overs to become the 1st Bangladesh bowler to get fastest 50 wickets in ODI cricket which is joint 13th in the world record along five others. Mustafizur got two wickets for economic 29 runs in 10 overs.
Another pace bowler Rubel Hossain was the most successful wicket-taker in the innings, grabbing four wickets-skipper Dinesh Chandimal (45 off 74b; 1x6), Asela Gunaratne (6), Akila Dananjaya (17 off 16b; 1x4; 1x6) and Shehan Madushanka (7) -conceding 46 runs in 10 overs.
