Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara (left) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Thushara’s third wicket within the match, throughout the third and final Twenty20 worldwide cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on March 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Opener Kusal Mendis hit an excellent 86 and pacer Nuwan Thushara added a career-best 5-20 together with a hat trick as Sri Lanka cruised to a 28-run victory over Bangladesh within the ultimate T20 to win the series 2-1 on Saturday.
Sri Lanka gained the primary match by three runs however Bangladesh levelled with an eight-wicket victory.
Mendis’ 55-ball knock that included six fours and as many sixes single-handedly drove the aspect to 174-6 after which Thushara, taking part in his first recreation within the series, ripped by means of top-order in a swing bowling show.
“This is our last series before the World, so we take a lot of confidence from this,” Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga stated.
“It’s Thushara’s first game this series, he bowled really well,” he added. “This is a good series win for us and just think our bowling attack was too good for them.”
Rishad Hossain hit seven sixes, the very best by a Bangladesh batter on this format in an innings, for his 30-ball 53 as Bangladesh recovered from 32-6 to be all out for 146 in 19.4 overs.
Thushara, the alternative of injured Matheesha Pathirana, took 4 wickets in his two overs together with a hat trick to damage Bangladesh’s hope to seal its first-ever T20 series victory towards Sri Lanka.
Dhananjaya de Silva broke by means of with the wicket of Liton Das (7) after which in subsequent over, Thushara joined the social gathering. He eliminated captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) and Towhid Hridoy by rattling their stump earlier than trapping Mahmudullah for leg-before. Mahmudullah reviewed in useless as Thushara grew to become the fourth Sri Lankan bowler to obtain a hat trick on this format.
In his subsequent over, Thushara received the higher of Soumya Sarkar, after which Hasanranga dismissed Jaker Ali (4) to depart Bangladesh 32-6.
“We have to be careful going forward how we play in the first six overs,” Shanto stated. “If you have a look at all three matches, we performed some good cricket. Especially the way in which Rishad, Taskin (Ahmed) and Mahedi (Hasan) batted, actually completely happy for them.”
Earlier when Bangladesh put Sri Lanka into bat first for the third time in a row within the series, Kusal Mendis led the cost with the second finest 19 not out coming from Dasun Shanaka.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who claimed 2-25, broke by means of with the wicket of De Silva.
Kusal placed on 34 with Kamindu Mendis (12) and 59 with Hasaranga (15) to lay the platform.
Taskin took the essential wicket of Kusal to deny him the century. His dismissal additionally sparked a mini-collapse, denying Sri Lanka an opportunity to take its whole previous 200.
The groups may also play three one-day internationals and two take a look at matches to conclude the tour.
