Bangladesh need 222 to clinch maiden title

Sports Desk: Bangladesh need 222 runs to clinch the maiden title of tri-nation series.

Upul Tharanga composed a fine 56, while Dinesh Chandimal (45) and Niroshan Dickwella (42) played useful hands to pilot Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 221 versus Bangladesh in the tri-series final in Dhaka.

Rubel Hossain bagged a four-for for Bangladesh on Saturday (January 27).

Sri Lanka, who opted to bat, lost the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka early in the third over. Kusal Mendis, batting at No.3, immediately made an impact, thumping Mehidy Hasan for three sixes and a boundary. However, Mendis lost his concentration as he flat-batted one straight to Mahmudullah off Mortaza in the sixth over.

At that stage of the innings, Dickwella and Tharanga joined forces to share a stand of 71 for the third wicket. To break the stand, Bangladesh also took a review against Tharanga in the 14th over but to no avail. Bangladesh also didn't help their cause as Mushfiqur Rahim dropped a chance in the 22nd over off Saifuddin. Saifuddin, however, bounced back as he dismissed Dickwella a few overs later.

Mustafizur followed it up by castling Tharanga with his well disguised off-cutter as Sri Lanka slid further to 158 for 4. Incidentally, Tharanga had reviewed a decision the ball before against LBW, with the ball-tracker showing it would miss the leg-stump.

Dinesh Chandimal held the innings together in the slog overs with a solid hand, while Akila Dananjaya cracked a few lusty blows to propel the visitors to a competitive total. Rubel bowled full and straight late to pick up key scalps.

On a track that is gripping for spinners, this could prove to be a tricky chase for Bangladesh.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 221 in 50 overs (Upul Tharanga 56, Dinesh Chandimal 45; Rubel Hossain 4-46) vs Bangladesh.

risingbd/Dhaka/January 27, 2018/A K Azad