Sports Desk: Bangladesh’s young guns put up a stellar show in steering the side to a four-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the series deciding third ODI today at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
In doing so, Bangladesh confirmed the series 2-1 and also sealed its second straight ODI series victory over Lankans, having previously beaten them by the same margin in a three-match series at home in 2021.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who was the concussion sub of Soumya Sarkar, hammered a 81 ball-84 while another youngster Rishad Hossain smashed a brutal 18 ball-48 runs to go with his 1-51, to help ease past Sri Lanka in emphatic fashion.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 235 before being all out in 50 overs, courtesy to Janith Liyanage who single-handedly drove the side, with his maiden century.
Soumya who felt neck stiffness and complained of a headache and vision difficulties after his head hit the ground while saving a boundary was substituted by Tanzid Hasan and he proved his worth with a fluent knock which was laced with nine fours and four sixes.
After his fluent start, Rishad Hossain, one of the three changes of Bangladesh for this match, clobbered five fours and four sixes for his hurricane knock, steering Bangladesh to 237-6 in just 40.2 overs.
Tanzid and Anamul Haque, who replaced out of form Liton Das, added 50-run for the opening stand with the former dominating the partnership.
Pacer Lahiru Lumara who grabbed his career-best 4-48, removed Haque (12) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) in his consecutive overs to put the side on the front foot.
Kumara also broke 49-run partnership between Tanzid and Towhid Hridoy when he undid the latter with extra bounce after he scored 22 and then removed Mahmudullah (1) with a back of length delivery in his next over to leave Bangladesh at 113-4 in 24th over.
And when legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga had Taznid caught by Charith Asalanka at long-on after building pressure on him with a series of dot balls, Sri Lanka got a ray of hope with Bangladesh at 130-5.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan put on 48-run before Hasaranga (2-64) again struck with the wicket of Mehidy (25) but Rishad’s brutal attack hastened the victory, leaving Sri Lanka bewildered and scratching its head.
Earlier, Liyangae’s maiden century was key in helping Sri Lanka take the total past 200 runs amid the failure of their top order.
Liyanage who brought up his century in the last over off 101 balls, with an elegant cover drive through extra cover for a boundary against fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, finally was unbeaten on 101 off 102, smashing 11 fours and two sixes.
Taskin Ahmed was the wrecker-in-chief with 3-42 while Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took two wickets apiece.
Taskin struck twice in his consecutive two overs to get the better of two openers—Pathum Nissanka (1), who hit a century in the previous match and Avishka Fernando (4), which left Sri Lanka to 15-2 in fourth overs after it decided to bat first.
Captain Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama looked to steady the ship but the rebuilding process got a dent when Mustafizur Rahman dismissed the latter for 14 after he edged a moving delivery behind.
Legspinner Rishad Hossain, one of the three changes of Bangladesh for this match, then gave the side the most desired wicket when he turned one sharply to get rid of Mendis after he made 29 off 51.
Liyanage, playing his only ninth ODI, came into the crease and took the responsibility to drive the side even though Bangladesh continued taking wickets at regular interval which denied Sri Lanka any big partnership.
Liyanage and Charith Asalanka appeared to be on course to give Sri Lanka the elusive partnership but Mustafizur struck when it mattered most as Asalanka cut a length ball straight to wicket-keeper 37.
But Liyanage refused to knuckle down as he put the Bangladesh bowlers on sword to keep the scoreboard going amid the wickets tumbling around him.
The two teams will now play a two-match Test series. Earlier Sri Lanka won the three-match T20 series by 2-1.
