Kusal Perera celebrates after scoring his fifth ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Kusal Perera struck a superb 111 and pace bowler Lasith Malinga took three wickets to end his ODI career in style in Sri Lanka’s 91-run win over Bangladesh in Colombo.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka lost opener Avishka Fernando early on as he was dismissed by Shafiul Islam for seven runs.
Captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal made up for the loss of Fernando with a 97-run partnership, during which Kusal brought up his fifty, before Karunaratne was removed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 36.
Kusal and Kusal Mendis kept the runs flowing with a 100-run stand, during which Kusal registered his hundred, before he was caught by Mustafizur Rahman at short fine leg off the bowling of Soumya Sarkar for 111, which came off 99 balls and included 17 boundaries and a six.
Mendis went on to score 43 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Rubel Hossain.
Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne added 60 runs to the score before Thirimanne fell to Mustafizur for 25.
Thisara Perera was dismissed soon after, while Mathews ended up scoring 48 before he was caught by Sabbir Rahman at long-off off the bowling of Mustafizur.
With Dhananjaya de Silva smashing a quickfire 18, Sri Lanka finished on 314/8.
Shafiul was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Mustafizur snapped up two. As for Mehidy, Rubel and Sarkar, they chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 315 to win, Bangladesh were dealt a big blow on the fifth ball of their innings as Tamim Iqbal was clean bowled by Malinga for a duck.
Mohammad Mithun only made 10 runs before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep.
Sarkar suffered the same fate as Tamim after scoring 15 runs, while Lahiru Kumara took out Mahmudullah for three runs.
With Bangladesh struggling at 39/4, Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir stabilised the innings with a 111-run partnership, during which Sabbir surpassed his fifty.
He went on to score a 56-ball 60, which included seven boundaries, before he was dismissed by De Silva.
Mosaddek Hossain and Mehidy fell shortly after, while Rahim ended up making an 86-ball 67, which included five boundaries, before he was removed by Pradeep.
Pradeep sent Shafiul packing two balls later before Bangladesh were bowled out for 223 when Malinga took out Mustafizur for 18.
Malinga and Pradeep took three wickets apiece, while De Silva got two and Kumara claimed one.
Kusal Perera was named Man of the Match.