Thushara hattrick downs Bangladesh as SL clinch T20I series

Sri Lanak pacer Nuwan Thushara picked up a five-wicket haul, including a hattrick, which slumped Bangladesh to a 28-run defeat in the third and final T20I of the three-match series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. 

The win gave the Lankans a 2-1 series win, their third straight series win. 

Thushara, who came into the lineup in place of Matheesha Pathirana, picked up his hattrick in the fourth over of the innings which wreaked havoc in Bangladesh's chase of a 175-run target and the hosts eventually were bundled out for 146.

After Liton Das gifted his wicket away to Dhananjaya de Silva in the third over, it was Thushara who stormed Bangladesh with his slinging action. He castled Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy before trapping Mahmudullah Riyad lbw with his second, third, and fourth delivery to complete a triple-wicket maiden.

Thushara picked another one in the sixth over, his second of the innings, when he castled Soumya Sarker.  

The right-handed pacer was taken out of the attack but that did little to reprieve Bangladesh as they were faced with the challenge of combatting the number two and three-ranked bowlers in the world in Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. It didn't take long for Hasaranga to get in on the act as he trapped Jakir Ali Anik with a googly in the ninth over to have the Tigers on the brink of a heavy defeat as they were six down for 37 runs.

Rishad Hossain put a halt in the slide as he set a new six-hitting record by smashing seven sixes in a 30-ball 53-run knock. He put on a 44-rin stand with Sheikh Mahedi Hasan and a 41-run partnership with Taskin Ahmed to bring the down the margin of the defeat which seemed inevitable. 

Thushara picked up his fifth in the final over of the innings to seal a series win for the visitors. 

Earlier, Kusal Mendis' brilliant 86 off 55 balls innings lifted Sri Lanka to 174-7.

Pacers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam had a great day, claiming two and one wicket respectively for an excellent economy rate of 6.25 and 7 respectively,

However, the experienced Mustafizur Rahman went for 46 runs in his four overs for one wicket, which included a 14-run final over.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain also claimed a couple of wickets.

Other than Mendis, none of the Sri Lankan batters managed to get into 20s, with Dasun Shanaka hitting a handy unbeaten 19 off nine balls at the very end.

Thushara hattrick rattles Tigers

Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Thushara picked up a hattrick to wreak havoc in Bangladesh's chase of 175 as the hosts were reeling at 15 for the loss of four inside the first four overs in the third T20I at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. 

After Liton Das gifted his wicket away to Dhananjaya de Silva in the third over, it was Thushara who stormed Bangladesh with his slinging action. He castled Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy before trapping Mahmudullah Riyad lbw with his second, third, and fourth delivery to complete a triple-wicket maiden.

Thushara, who came into the side in place of Matheesha Pathirana, picked another one in the sixth over, his second of the innings, when he castled Soumya Sarker (11 off 10), the only batter to have reached double figures till the 10th over.  

The right-handed pacer was taken out of the attack but that did little to reprieve Bangladesh as they were faced with the challenge of combatting the number two and three-ranked bowlers in the world in Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. It didn't take long for Hasaranga to get in on the act as he trapped Jakir Ali Anik with a googly in the ninth over to have the Tigers on the brink of a heavy defeat as they were six down for 37 runs.  

Bangladesh need 175 to seal maiden T20 series over Sri Lanka

Kusal Mendis' brilliant 86 off 55 balls innings lifted Sri Lanka to 174-7 in their 20 overs against Bangladesh in the series-deciding third T20 of the three-match series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Pacers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam had a great day, claiming two and one wicket respectively for an excellent economy rate of 6.25 and 7 respectively,

However, the experienced Mustafizur Rahman went for 46 runs in his four overs for one wicket, which included a 14-run final over.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain also claimed a couple of wickets.

Other than Mendis, none of the Sri Lankan batters managed to get into 20s, with Dasun Shanaka hitting a handy unbeaten 19 off nine balls at the very end.

Bangladesh now need 175 runs to register their maiden T20 series win over Sri Lanka.

Taskin ends Mendis storm

Taskin Ahmed brought an end to Kusal Mendis' defiant innings, getting the batter caught at midwicket in the 17th over for an excellent 86 off balls in the third T20 of the three-match series in Sylhet today.

Mendis smashed six fours and six sixes in his innings. Sri Lanka reached 140 for 5 with three overs to go and Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka at the middle.

Bangladesh claim two quick wickets, but Mendis undeterred

Bangladesh claimed a couple of quick wickets as Kusal Mendis continued his aggressive batting display, as Sri Lanka reached 135 for 4 with five overs to go in the third T20 in Sylhet today.

Mendis was unbeaten on 83 off 47 balls, with six fours and the same number of sixes, while Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on one.

Earlier, Mustafizur Rahman removed Hasaranga in the 13th over and Shoriful dismissed Charith Assalanka in the 15th, with wickets falling to short-pitched deliveries.

Mendis completes fifty, Sri Lanka bring up 100

Kusal Mendis completed his half-century off 35 balls as Sri Lanka bring up 100 in 11.5 overs after a slow start in the final T20 of the three-match series in Sylhet today.

Mendis has been the standout batter for the visitors so far, hitting, five fours and three sixes and is unbeaten on 55 off 37 balls as Sri Lanka have reached 111-2 after 12 overs.

Mendis nearly got dismissed immediately after his half-century but Mahmudullah at point couldn't hold on to a difficult chance off Soumya Sarkar, which went for a four.

Bangladesh are now in desperate need of a breakthrough.

Sri Lanka lose second wicket after Powerplay recovery

Rishad Hossain broke a dangerous-looking partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis by removing the former for a run-a-ball 12 in the eighth over as Sri Lanka lost their second wicket for 52 in the third T20 in Sylhet today.

The Mendis added 36 off 27 balls for the second wicket with Kusal being the aggressor with three fours. Kamindu tried to join his partner in the onslaught but mistimed his lofted shot and got caught at long off.

Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga has joined Kusal.

Taskin gets the first breakthrough

Taskin Ahmed claimed the first wicket of the innings, getting Dhananjaya de Silva caught inside the 30-yard circle in the first ball of the fourth over, reducing Sri Lanka to 18 for 1 in the series-deciding third Twenty20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Shoriful Islam and Taskin have been testing the Lankan openers from the first over, with Shoriful hitting the batter on the pads three times in the first over. 

Opener Kusal Mendis has now been joined by Kamindu Mendis after the first wicket.

Bangladesh bowl first in T20 series-decider

Bangladesh won the toss for the third straight time in the series and opted to bowl first in the series-deciding third Twenty20 against Sri Lanka at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

The hosts have named an unchanged playing eleven from the previous two matches while the visitors have made three changes. Injured pacer Matheesha Pathirana, Avishka Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka have been replaced by the returning Wanindu Hasaranga, who is also leading the side, Nuwan Thushara and Dhananjaya de Silva.

The Tigers bounced back with an eight-wicket win in the second T20 after losing the series opener by three runs.

Bangladesh are yet to win a T20 series against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara