Taskin fifth Bangladeshi to take an ODI hattrick

Taskin Ahmed yesterday became the fifth Bangladesh player, after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain and Taijul Islam to pick up a hattrick in ODI cricket, doing so in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

The right-arm fast bowler achieved the feat when he dismissed Asela Gunaratne, the right-hander who was caught at mid-off off Taskin's third ball before Suranga Lakmal was caught at mid-wicket and Nuwan Pradeep, the number eleven batsman, was clean bowled by an off-stump yorker in the final over of the Sri Lanka innings.

Taskin bowled with heart and ended with figures of four for 47 in 8.5 overs.

Sri Lanka could not keep up the pace with their good start as they lost five wickets in the last five overs of the match. Mushfiqur Rahim first reacted brilliantly to run out the dangerous Thisara Perera after a Mashrafe Bin Mortaza delivery -- the fourth ball of the 46th over -- had hit the left-hander on the leg and gone behind. Perera initially set off but by the time he had started running back, Mushfiqur's throw had already connected with the stumps.

The skipper affected another run out after Dilruwan Perera was beaten comprehensively by Mustafizur Rahman's second ball of the 48th over. Similar to the run out before, Perera had set off, but he did not even bother to make his way back as Mushfiqur collected the ball and completed an inch-perfect throw, before Taskin wrapped up the hosts' innings in fine fashion.