Angelo Mathews starred with a telling 87 off 90 balls in Sri Lanka’s 122-run triumph over Bangladesh in the third day-night ODI at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium for a 3-nil clean sweep of Bangladesh yesterday. The former Sri Lanka captain and veteran batsman imbibed composed urgency to steadying and lifting the innings to a commanding 294 for 8 off 50 overs at a run rate of 5.88 after the scoring rate had been pegged down on a wobbly 98 for 3 wickets with a good part of 21.2 overs.
He capped a grand comeback series by Sri Lanka from a long winless drought by pocketing both the Player of the Match and Man of the Series awards. He struck 8 boundaries and a six figuring in an impacting in a whirlwind 24-ball 52-run alliance with Dasun Shanaka for the fifth wicket. Shanaka brought the crowd to their feet slamming 30 off 14 balls inclusive of 2 boundaries and 2 sixes putting meat into the scoring which soared from 199 for 4 off 41.3 overs to 251 for 5 when he exited. Shehan Jayasuriya continued the good work with 13 off 7 starting with a second ball six and a boundary taking the total to 280 for 6 when he fell. Mathews was seventh out in the first delivery of the 50th over having shared in a 101-run fourth wicket partnership off 121 balls with Kusal Mendis who made 54 off 58 containing 5 boundaries and a six. Mendis broke a 19-inings half century. Upfront skipper Dimuth Karunaratne weighed in with 46 off 60 with 6 boundaries posting 83 for the second wicket with Kusal Janith Perera who made 42 off 51 with 5 boundaries. Soymya Sarkar with 3 for 56) and Shafiul Islam 3 for 68 were the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers.
Bangladesh caved in for 172 as Sri Lanka wrapped it up in just 36 overs with Dasun Shanaka taking 3 for 27 to cap a fine all-round performance followed by the pace duo of Kasun Rajitha 2 for 17 and Lahiru Kumara 2 for 26. Only Soumya Sarkar came to terms with the bat for the visitors with 69 off 86 hitting 5 boundaries and a six with the next best an unbeaten 39 off 28 by No. 9 Taijul Islam with 5 boundaries and a six.
CHIEF SCORES:
Sri Lanka 294/8 (50 Overs) Run Rate:5.88
(A.D. Mathews 87, B.K.G. Mendis 54, , F.D.M. Karunaratne 46. D. Shanaka 30, G.S.N.F.G. Jayasuriya 13, S. Sarkar with 3/56, S. Islam 3/68)
Bangladesh 172 All out (36 Overs) Run Rate: 4.77
(S. Sarkar 69, Islam 39 n.o. D. Shanaka 3/27, K. Rajitha 2/17, L. Kumara 2/26.
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
