Mathews leads Sri Lanka to series sweep against Bangladesh

Senior batsman Angelo Mathews steals the show as the islanders taste ODI series sweep in more than three years.

Published : Jul 31, 2019 23:09 IST , Colombo

Angelo Mathews in action against Bangladesh in Colombo on Wednesday.
Angelo Mathews in action against Bangladesh in Colombo on Wednesday.
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Angelo Mathews in action against Bangladesh in Colombo on Wednesday.

Angelo Mathews scored 87 to inspire Sri Lanka to its first one-day international series sweep in more than three years, defeating Bangladesh by 122 runs in the third and final match on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka’s last sweep was a 2-0 series win in Ireland in June 2016.

Choosing to bat, Sri Lanka made 294 for eight in 50 overs. Mathews was well backed by Kusal Mendis who made 54. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne (46) and Kusal Perera (42) also made useful contributions.

Bangladesh medium pacers Soumya Sarkar (3-56) and Shafiul Islam (3-68) had a good outing.

Sarkar also shone with the bat, top scoring with 69, but a dismal show from the other batsmen resulted in Bangladesh being dismissed for 172 runs with 14 overs to spare.

READ| Fernando, Akila Dhananjaya star as Sri Lanka claims series win over Bangladesh

Karunaratne and Avishka Fernando opened the batting for Sri Lanka but their stand did not last long when Fernando, who top scored with 82 in the second match, was out for six runs, trapped lbw by Shafiul.

Karunaratne and No. 3 batsman Kusal Perera shared 83 runs for the second wicket in 95 balls before the former was caught by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim while trying to scoop left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.

Soon, Perera was caught behind off Rubel Hossain leaving Sri Lanka at 98 for three.

Mathews joined Mendis and the pair steadied the Sri Lankan innings sharing 101 runs for the fourth wicket off 121 balls. Mendis mistimed a slower ball from Sarkar and was caught near the boundary by Sabbir Rahman after completing his 16th half-century.

Mathews made 87 runs in 90 balls including eight boundaries and a six.

Sri Lanka scored 106 runs in the last 10 overs with Dasun Shanaka scoring 30 off 14 deliveries including two sixes and two boundaries.

Bangladesh started its chase poorly, losing captain Tamim Iqbal with just four runs on the board in the second over. Tamim, who had scored zero and 19 in the previous two matches of the series, departed for two runs caught behind by Perera off fast bowler Kasun Rajitha.

Anamul Haq and Sarkar added 25 runs for the second wicket before Anamul, who hit two consecutive fours against Rajitha, skied a third for a catch to Fernando.

In-form Rahim, who made two half-centuries in the series including an unbeaten 98 in the second match, was out for 10 caught at slip by Mendis off seamer Shanaka.

With wickets falling regularly, Bangladesh was never in the game thereafter. Shanaka took three for 27 while Lahiru Kumara and Rajitha took two wickets apiece.

The match was dedicated to Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who announced his retirement from international cricket.

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