Kusal 124 forms the centrepiece of Sri Lanka's series victory
Asitha Fernando and Dushmantha Chameera picked up three wickets each to bowl Bangladesh out for 186 chasing 286
Asitha Fernando and Dushmantha Chameera picked up three wickets each to bowl Bangladesh out for 186 chasing 286
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya
So as Sri Lanka lift the trophy, we bring to a close our coverage of this ODI series. Bangladesh's wait for a series win in Sri Lanka goes on, but they will have a chance once more as the T20Is kick-off in Pallekele this Thursday. Be sure to join us for that, but for now, on behalf of Fidel and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing off.
Charith Asalanka: "This was a quite interesting and important game, and a lot of the guys delivered at the right time. [your batting?] When I first entered I thought the pitch was slightly on the slower side, and I couldn't make my singles very easily. I then took some calculated risks and hit a few boundaries to get runs. [last 10 overs?] Quite disappointing because once we get that kind of start, we might look around 300."
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: "I think we bowled really well in the last 10 overs. It's not easy to bowl here, because the wicket was excellent. Taskin, Mustafizur and the spinners did very well. [Where did you go wrong?] I think the wicket was excellent, we discussed about playing positive. If we get the chance we should bat deep, and the last 10 overs we can go harder. But I think we made mistakes. We didn't get partnerships in the middle, and from the openers. That was the problem for us. [positives?] Our team is young, they need time. If you give opportunity it might pay off one day." Player of the Match goes to Kusal Mendis for his 124 off 114. Kusal is also the Player of the Series for his 225 runs at 75: "I'm very happy. No I didn't know [that SL always win at home when I score a hundred]. My batting coach said that if I score we will win. [change from last game] I played a different game in the last match, but today I played my normal game after speaking to the coach. The pitch was a little slow, but it came on better later on."
10.06pm Time for the post match presentation.
Gihan : "@Krunal, you have a point. Normally we see some aggressive rivalry between these two teams recently, but in this series as well as in the Tests we have been seeing smiley faces with patting and joking. It's a good sign. We actually need that rather than sledging. "
Jay Deshpande: "Sri Lanka's current team looks very similar to the one they developed in the mid to late 90s and early 00s. Very strong at home, with more and more surprises overseas. Here's hoping that the revival of Sri Lankan cricket continues. I can sense a lot of magic."
krunal: "As an observer of the Naagin rivalry since the last couple of years, I can say that this is one of the cooler bilateral series." --- It's definitely one of the most competitive around, Krunal.
Mustafa Moudi: "While the Series results were competitive as this series reached this decider, But I found this series to be - Win Toss and you Win the Match type. As all the 3 times that defending sides won and so the Toss gave a major advantage !!" --- Don't think the toss was as big an advantage as is being made out, to be honest. First two games the chasing team were in control for large parts, while in this Bangladesh struggled with partnerships.
Dany: "Sri Lanka did well 1st and 3rd ODI they won big and 2nd SL lost with fight and tight finish "
The series though was hard fought. Bangladesh let the first ODI slip from a position of near total control, and in the second they delivered on that promise. But in the third, they just weren't able to handle the key moments as well as the Sri Lankans. We will have the post-match presentation shortly.
9.53pm A comfortable win in the end, even if at the halfway point Bangladesh would have felt they were right in the game. 286 was a gettable target, but Sri Lanka's seam pair of Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando were irresistable in their opening burst and then came through to take out the lower order as well. The pair picked up 6 wickets between them - 3 apiece - while the spinners did their part in keeping up the pressure. Hridoy's stands of 42 and 43 with Emon and Mehidy gave Bangladesh hope, but Sri Lanka kept chipping away, with Bangladesh's batters having no answers. With the bat though, Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka did a bulk of the work, with the former notching a sixth ODI century. Bangladesh reeled things back at the death, but in the end Sri Lanka had already done enough.
Tanvir Islam c KNM Fernando b Hasaranga 8 (15m 10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 80
Z.S. Khan: "Reality is Bangladesh are at max a 250-60 run team in a 400 world."
Aruna: "Let me put this in as well for good measure. As it was proven in the last game the last pair can win matches too. SL should not be complacent." --- Pretty great timing, Aruna.
Mustafizur is the last man in
Jaker Ali b AM Fernando 27 (50m 35b 2x4 1x6) SR: 77.14
He also urged the middle order to show more fight after Bangladesh failed to bat out 50 overs in any of the three ODIs
Asitha Fernando and Dushmantha Chameera picked up three wickets each to bowl Bangladesh out for 186 chasing 286
Bangladesh opener hit 67 off 69 balls in the second ODI but wants to "play long innings"
"He could have easily gone on to score 150 to 200 runs in the first match," Kandamby said
Both teams will be looking to make the best of the batting-friendly conditions in Pallekele, weather permitting, in the series decider