Bangladesh bowlers came up with stellar performance to restrict Sri Lanka to a 174-6 in the third and final T20 International, what turned out to be a series deciding game at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed (2-25) and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2-35) led the charge, sharing four wickets between them.

For Sri Lanka, opener Kusal Mendis single-handedly drove the side, hammering 55 ball-86 which laced with six fours and six sixes.

No other batters could score even 20, with the second best coming from the willow Dasun Shanaka who made an unbeaten 19 off 9. Captain Wanindu Hasaranga who came back to lead the side after serving two-match ban, imposed by ICC, scored 15.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for the third in a row won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat first, considering Sylhet wicket favours the batters in the latter part of the game.

Taskin Ahmed made the breakthrough in the fourth over, taking out Dhananjaya de Silva for e8 but two Mendis—Kusal and Kamindu once again came to the fore, sharing 34 runs to steady the innings.

When Rishad removed Kamindu for run-a-ball-12, Kusal formed 59-run with Hasaranga. Kusal again dominated the partnership, scoring large bulk of runs.

But Bangladesh bowlers showed their skill in breaking the partnership whenever it appeared to take the game away.

Mustafizur Rahman, who took 1-47, now broke the partnership between Kusal and Hasaranga when it posed a huge threat.

Shoriful, who claimed 1-28, and Taskin then in joint-venture dismissed Charith Asalanka (3) and Kusal in quick succession, denting Sri Lanka’s hope to take the total past 200.

However Shanaka’s big hitting prowess at least helped them go past 170.

BDST: 1719 HRS, MAR 09, 2024
MN