Tanzid, Mahedi power Tigers to maiden series win against SL

Tanzid Hasan Tamim's career-best T20I knock powered Bangladesh to a comfortable eight-wicket win in the third T20I and propelled the Tigers to their maiden T20I series win over Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Tanzid remained unbeaten on 73 off 47 balls while captain LItton Das (32 off 26) and Towhid Hridoy (27 not out off 25) played important knocks as Bangladesh chased down the 133-run target in just 16.3 overs. 

The chase had begun in a disastrous manner, with opener Parvez Hossain Emon getting out for a golden duck in the first ball of the innings.

Tanzid then formed a 74-run stand with Litton followed by an unbroken 59-run partnership with Hridoy to seal the victory.

Earlier, Mahedi Hasan finished with a career-best 4-11 to restrict Sri Lanka to 132-7. 

With the win, Bangladesh have clinched the three-match series 2-1.

This is also Bangladesh's maiden series win against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in format.

This victory bring Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka to a close. Earlier, the Tigers lost the two-Test series 1-0 and conceded the three-match ODI series 2-1.

Litton gone but Tanzid keeps chase on track

Captain Litton Das got dismissed against the run of play, ending a 74-run stand between him and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who has brought up a brilliant half-century as Bangladesh have reached 89-2 after 10 overs chasing 133 in the series-deciding third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today. 

Litton got caught at third-man off Kamindu Mendis after making 32 off 26 balls. Tanzid, meanwhile, has hit four sixes and one four so far and has moved on to 54 off 30 deliveries. Tawhid Hridoy is keeping him company at the other end on two.

Bangladesh need just 44 off the remaining 10 overs to notch their maiden T20I series win over Sri Lanka.

Litton, Tanzid keep Bangladesh's chase on course

Captain Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan Tamim has given Bangladesh the ideal start chasing 133, as the visitors are 47-1 at the end of the Powerplay in the series-deciding third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today. 

Litton has made 28 off 21 and opener Tanzim is unbeaten on 18 off 14 as the duo have so far added 47 runs off 35 balls in their second wicket stand.

Bangladesh had made a worrying start to the chase, losing opener Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck in the first ball, with Nuwan Thushara getting him trapped lbw.

But after that, Litton and Tanzid have batted with maturity and kept Bangladesh on course in the chase.

Bangladesh set 133 target to win series

Mahedi Hasan with his career-best T20I figures headlined an economic bowling performance from Bangladesh as the visitors restricted Sri Lanka to 132-7 in the series-deciding third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Mahedi finished with 4-11 while Shamim Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam took one wicket each after the Tigers were sent to bowl first.

Opener Pathum Nissanka top scored with 46 off 39 balls and Dasin Shanaka hit a crucial unbeaten 25-ball 35 to get Sri Lanka up to a decent total on a pitch where the ball is turning.

Bangladesh's three spinners -- Mahedi, RIshad Hossan (0-20) and Shamim -- collectively conceded just 41 runs in 10 overs. Mustafizur also conceded just 17 in his four overs while Shoriful leaked 50 in his four, including 22 runs in the 20th, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave away 23 in his two overs.

If the Tigers can chase down this total, they will win the series 2-1, sealing their maiden T20I series win over Sri Lanka at home or away.

Mahedi's best ever T20I figures leaves Sri Lanka reeling

Mahedi Hasan brought up his career best figures in his comeback match, claiming 4-11 in his quota of four overs as Bangladesh have reduced Sri Lanka to 66-5 after 11 overs in the series-deciding third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Mahedi had struck twice in the Powerplay, removing Ksual Perera for a first-ball duck and then Dinesh Chandimal for four.

The off-spinner then uprooted the off-stump of Lankan captain Charith Asalanka for three right after the Powerplay and finished his spell with a wicket maiden, removing Pathum Nissanka for 46 off 39 with a simple return catch.

Mahedi's previous best figures in T20Is was 4-13 against West Indies last year.

This is also the 12th best figures for a Bangladeshi in T20Is and the second best figures by a Bangladeshi off-spinner in T20Is. This is also the fifth best figures ever against Sri Lanka in T20Is. 

Mahedi strikes twice as Tigers on top after Powerplay

Mahedi Hasan struck twice in the Powerplay in his comeback match as Bangladesh have rendered Sri Lanka down to 40-3 after six overs in the series-deciding third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

The off-spinner got Kusal Perera caught at slip for a golden duck in his first over and then induced a top-edge from the bat of Dinesh Chandimal, removing him for four.

Earlier, pacer Shoriful Islam gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough in the opening over, getting Kusal Mendis caught at third man for six.

The pacer nearly removed Pathum Nissanka on 14 as well in the third over, but Tanzim Hasan Sakib could not hold onto a difficult chance.

Nissanka is unbeaten on 28 off 22 with captain Charith Asalanka batting on one at the other end.

Shoriful, Mahedi give Tigers good start in series decider

Bangladesh made a bright start in the series-deciding third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today, striking twice in the opening three overs to leave the hosts reeling.

Sri Lanka were 28 for 2 after three overs, with both openers dismissed cheaply by Shoriful Islam and Mahedi Hasan.

The breakthrough came in the second over when Shoriful Islam dismissed the dangerous Kusal Mendis for six. The left-arm pacer delivered a full ball on the pads, tempting Mendis to go for his trademark pick-up shot over deep square leg. However, the shot found Towhid Hridoy stationed perfectly at the boundary, who took a composed catch to silence the home crowd.

Just a ball into the next over, Mahedi Hasan added to Sri Lanka's woes by removing Kusal Perera for a duck. Bowling from around the wicket, Mahedi pushed one flat and quick outside off. Perera, caught in two minds, edged a tentative back-foot push to Tanzid Hasan at slip, who made no mistake.
 

Mahedi, Tanzim return as Tigers sent to bowl first in series-decider

Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent to bowl first by Sri Lanka in the series-deciding third and final T20I at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

The Tigers have made two changes for the crunch match, bringing in all-rounder Mahedi Hasan and Tanzim Hasan Sakib in place of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Saifuddin.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have brought in Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis in place of Avishka Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne.

This was the ninth straight time skipper Litton Das has called it wrong in the coin toss. 

The series is well poised at 1-1 after the visitors bounced back with a dominating 83 runs victory in the second match following a seven-wicket defeat in he series opener.

A win today would earn Bangladesh their maiden T20I series over the Lankans.

Bangladesh have played five T20I series against Sri Lanka before, losing four of them and drawing one 1-1 in 2017.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das(w/c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara