Sri Lanka mark Lasith Malinga’s final ODI with big win over Bangladesh
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and elected to bat first and helped get his side off to a strong start. Though Avishka Fernando edged Shafiul Islam to slip with just 10 on the board, Karunaratne and Kusal guided their side past 100 without further loss.
Karunaratne fell for 36, but Kusal carried onto his fifth ODI hundred, putting on a century partnership with Kusal Mendis, who made 43. They fell within five runs of each other, but Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne helped Sri Lanka past 300.
Shafiul added two wickets to his earlier scalp while Mustafizur Rahman claimed two wickets of his own as the Tigers battled back to limit Sri Lanka. Having at one stage looked set to cross 350, they had to settle for 314/8.
It mattered little as a fierce new-ball spell from the departing Malinga made the total look enormous. He bowled Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar with a pair of perfect yorkers, and with Mohammad Mithun pinned LBW by Nuwan Pradeep and Mahmudullah ramping Lahiru Kumara down third man’s throat, Bangladesh were 39/4.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman rebuilt for Bangladesh, adding 111 in quick time to spark hopes of a comeback. Both made half-centuries but neither could carry on, Sabbir holing out to deep midwicket for 60, and Mushfiqur tickling one down the legside.
Mosaddek Hossain was run out, Mehidy Hasan nicked off, and Shafiul was bowled by Pradeep, but it was left to Malinga to seal victory. After some tail-end slogging from Mustafizur, the No.11 mistimed a slower ball which was swallowed by Thisara Perera in the deep, giving the legendary quick the perfect ending his career deserved.