It is a good pitch to bat on and batting first is the right way to go in a game like this. But, the bowlers should also enjoy the surface, especially under lights. The new ball is expected a have a say.
VENUE STATS
1st Innings
250Avg Runs
8Avg Wkts
91.4Avg
SR
2nd Innings
206Avg Runs
6Avg Wkts
92.35Avg
SR
Weather Update
Weather Update
Kandy,Sri Lanka
Updated: 08 Jul 21:30
25.6°CClouds
68%
Clouds
0%
Rain %
4.1 kmph
Wind
Playing XILineups Out
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The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
Sri Lanka thump Bangladesh in the final ODI to take the series 2-1. It has been a tough tour for the visiting side. They have ended up on the losing side in both Tests as well as ODIs. But they will hope to turn it around in the T20I series, which starts on Thursday, July 10. The first of those matches will be played at the same venue.
And you can enjoy the live on the same platform at too. Matches commence at 7:00 PM IST. Do join us before that for the build up. For now, it is goodbye from Darpan and Pradeep! Sayonara!
10:14 PM | Sri Lankan players come together to pose with the trophy behind the banner that reads "CHAMPIONS". Young Dunith Wellalage is in the centre while the senior players on the side.
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka captain): "It was quite an interesting and important game for us and the boys delivered. I thought that the pitch was on the slower side. I could not take singles easily. Then, I thought I would hit boundaries. We were quite disappointed with the last 10 overs. We had 220 after 40 overs. We could have looked at 300. So we were 20 runs short."
Mehidy Hasan Miraz [Bangladesh captain]: "We pulled back nicely in the last ten overs, it was not easy to bowl, the wicket was good but Tanzim, Taskin did well. Me and Towhid batted well, the wicket was good, wanted to stay positive and bat long. The last ten overs the plan was to take it deep and win. We couldn't get the partnerships stips, kept losing wickets. Our team is young, some of them are very new. We take a lot of positives from this series, they will do well as they play more games."
Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Match for his outstanding knock of 124 of 114 balls! And, he's also the Player of the Series (225 runs in the series)! Here's what he has to say: "No, I was not aware of it, but very happy. I was able to contribute and help the team win. Had to play differently, we struggled against the spinners and was making mistakes at the start, I played my normal game by picking up singles. First ten overs was good, it got slower later on. Pathum batted well, Charith supported. It got slower, and slower as we batted."
9:53 PM IST | Sri Lanka win the match by 99 runs and the series 2-1
Kusal Mendis 124 (114) | Asitha Fernando 3/33 (7) Towhid Hridoy 51 (78) | Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2/48 (10)
Amidst the roars of a vehement crowd at the Pallekele stadium, Sri Lanka have thumped Bangladesh and registered their first ODI series win against the arch-rivals since 2019. This also happens to be their 8th successive series win at home. Remember, this is the same team that failed to qualify for the last marquee ICC tournament.
The visitors have been outplayed on most days of this tour. Sri Lanka did have an off-day a couple of nights ago in Colombo, but they bounced back tonight to secure a comfortable win.
Wicket-keeper batter Kusal Mendis was the chief architect of this victory. He came in to bat after the team had suffered an early jolt and stayed at the crease till the 46th over, unfurling some imposing, exquisite strokes on his way to his 6th ODI ton, riding on which the hosts managed to notch up a good score of 285/7.
Though, they would be the first to admit that they should have probably got more. Bangladesh pulled things back in the final 10 overs, where they conceded only 63 runs and picked four wickets.
Perhaps, it was the confidence of that finish, or perhaps, it was just a pre-decided plan — Bangladesh openers started with the intention to smash everything in their sight. They ended up playing a few exaggerated strokes and found themselves in trouble early with the score reeling at 62/3. Credit must also go Sri Lanka's pacers — Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando. On a wicket where spinners often rule the roost, these two seamers impressed one and all. They bowled with vigour and finesse and never did the batters look at ease against these two. The spinners too did their job by keeping things tight. Unlike in the Tests, the hosts were not keen on conceding easy ones and twos here and the pressure kept on building with every passing over.
Poorly executed shots also came at regular intervals and wickets kept tumbling. Towhid Hridoy, who scored 51, was the only batter who exhibited a semblance of fight.
Special mention to Wanindu Hasaranga who had sprained his hamstring in the first innings, but delivered impressive 8.4 overs and returned a couple of wickets. He was also not shy of throwing himself around in the field.
Tanvir Islam has been dismissed for 8 runs off 10 balls
39.4 Wanindu Hasaranga to Tanvir Islam, OUT! PICKED OUT DEEP MID-WICKET AND IT'S ALL OVER! Sri Lanka take the series, 2-1! Sri Lanka deliver a clinical blow to seal the series in style! Bangladesh never found their footing in the chase — outplayed, outgunned, and out of answers. In the end, Sri Lanka’s total proved more than enough as they cruised to victory in the series decider.
Tanvir went for the similar shot, doesn't get hold of it and found the long-on fielder where Madushka runs in and pouches it safely to seal the deal.
39.3 Wanindu Hasaranga to Tanvir Islam, FOUR! Excellent shot from Tanvir. Short and turning into the batter, Tanvir rocks back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket, one bounce into the ropes.
39.2 Wanindu Hasaranga to Tanvir Islam, OH! Drops it short outside the off-stump, Tanvir went back to cut, but that keeps low and beats the bottom edge to the keeper.
39.1 Wanindu Hasaranga to Tanvir Islam, flighted a leg-break outside the off-stump, Tanvir goes back and punched it to covers.
Asitha was in a hurry to finish it off. He hurled in a searing yorker, but Mustafizur Rahman managed to plunge his bat down in time to block it.
39
overs
182/9score
0
0
6
0
W
0
runs
Jaker Ali Anik*
27(36)
Tanvir Islam
4(6)
Asitha Fernando
3/33
38.6 Asitha Fernando to Mustafizur Rahman, OH! Searing yorker, up in the blockhole. Fizz was able to dig it out.
Here is number 11 Mustafizur Rahman, LHB.
Mustafizur Rahman batting at 11th position
Well, farming the strike didn't quite help him in the end. Sri Lanka on the doorstep of a series win.
Jaker Ali Anik has been dismissed for 27 runs off 35 balls
38.5 Asitha Fernando to Jaker Ali Anik, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Asitha roars back, he's pumped alright. That should be the game for Sri Lanka. Back of a length on off-stump, Jaker has a massive swipe across the line and rattles the off-stump.
38.4 Asitha Fernando to Jaker Ali Anik, wide yorker from Asitha, Jaker reaches to squeeze it away and misses. Kusal applauds.
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Jaker Ali Anik
*
Asitha Fernando
Video
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