By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis yesterday struck a measured match winning 124 off 114 balls for his sixth in ODI century in routing Bangladesh by 99 runs with 10.2 overs to spare in meeting the challenge of going the ultimate distance in an insulating 124 bonding for the fourth wicket with skipper Charith Asalanka, a resolute 58 off 68 in the decisive third day night ODI for a 2-1 series triumph at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium
Mendis indeed rose in character to a splendid team man role in shedding impetuousness that cost him his wicket in the previous game after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat in an innings of concentration to staying up to the 46th over to ensuring Sri Lanka was in with a big score to have a go at Bangladesh when he was sixth out with the score 255 which was the leverage to a compatible 285 for 7 in 50 overs maximised by the Lankan bowlers to the hilt in bowling out Bangladesh for 186 in 39.4 overs with the two quicks Asitha Fernando 3 for 33 and Dushmantha Chameera 3 for 51 the chief destroyers with spin twins Dunith Wellalage 2 for 33 and Wanindu Hasaranga 3 for 35 completing the demolition.
Such was Kusal Mendis’ commitment to maximising his stay at the wicket having walked into the middle with the score 63 for the loss of the wickets of Nishan Madushka for 6 caught and bowled by Shamin Hossain – 1 for 13 in 3.1 overs, and Pathum Nissanka for 35 dismissed by Tanvir Islam to a catch by Parvez Hossain Emmon to reviving the score to 100 by the 21st over when Kamindu Mendis fell for 16 LBW to Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
More than anything Mendis’ degree of occupation of the crease was best illustrated by restraint as he let Asalanka build his innings by and by content to stay put nudging about to the skipper growing in stature. That his appetite for runs of controlled aggression crossing the boundary on 18 occasions did showcase the tremendous value input the 30-year old right hander aggregating 4654 runs in the format in 146 appearances and 143 innings carries to the side. Yesterday was special in that Player of the Match hurrah for a batsman with the repertoire to take apart any bowling attack as his hundred off 95 balls to ultimate Player of the Series reward to cap it.
Bangladesh went to pieces losing five wickets for 124 after 27.1 overs with their center piece Najimul Hossain Shanto bowled for a duck by a rearing Dushmantha Chameera with Towhid Hridoy’s 58 off 78 the only resistance himself having his stumps shattered by Chameera.
Chief Scores
Sri Lanka 285/7 50 Overs
Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58, Pathum Nissanka 35, Wanindu Hasaranga n.o. 18, Dushmantha Chameera n.o. 16, Kamindu Mendis 16, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3/48, Taskin Ahmed 2/51
Bangladesh 186 39 4 Overs
Towhid Hridoy 51, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 28, Jaker Ali 27, Asitha Fernsndo 3/33, Dushmantha Chameera 3/51, Dunith Wellalage 2/33, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/35.
