Bangladesh have been completely outplayed and swallo💎wed by hosts Sri Lan⛎ka in two out of the three ODIs played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Needless to say, the Sri Lankan lions have taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 against the Bangla tigers in their own den.
On Sunday, opener Avishka Fernando played a brilliant match-winning knock – 82 off 75 balls – and helped Sri Lanka to reach 242-3 in 44.4 overs. After restricting Bangladesh to 238-8 in spite of an unbeaten 98 from Mushfiqur Rahim, Sri Lanka chased down the total with ease.
Besides Fernando, who was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’ for his quick-fire 82 runs, Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis made 52 and 41 runs respectively.
“I am disappointed to not get to the three-figure mark and hopefully I can convert my starts into bigger knocks in the future,” said young Avishka Fernando after the match.
As far as the bowli꧅ng is concerned, the Sri🌟 Lankan trio of Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana and Akila Dananjaya came in handy by picking wickets on and off. Each of them went on to scalp two wickets.
“We did really well and it was on our minds that we hadn’t won at home in a long time. It was challenging against Bangladesh but we did really well. We wanted to bat first but that’s how things go. Bowlers did a good job and put their hands up. Akila came after a long time to the team and did really well. Did his job perfectly of keeping the pressure,”captain Dimuth Karunaratne said after Sri Lanka’s thumping victory.
“Avishka was told to play freely as we knew that the wicket will turn more as the innings progresses. Unfortunate that he couldn’t get his hundred, hopefully, he will do it in the future,” he added.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Sri Lanka win by seven wic💫kets and seal the series with a game to spar꧒e!
Avishka Fernando was ꦯin fine for♕m today, hitting a 75-ball 82 🙌
— ICC (@ICC)
And thats a win!! First ODI series vict♉ory for Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka since 2016.. well done boys.. very well done..
— Ahamed Nishadh (@ahamednishadh)
//twitter.com/Sakun_SD/status/1155514465967718400
Avishka Fernando's strokes looks like he batted on a different surface..
— Chandima Vithana (@CVithana)
50 for Mathews!! S𓆉er🐬ies victory after 3 years and 9 months!!
— Ieshaka Karunarathne (@IeshakaK)
The last match of th🧔e series will be played at tꦐhe same venue on July 31.
