Avishka Fernando on Sunday hit a quick-fire half-century as Sri Lanka eased to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second one-day international to seal the three-match series in Colombo.
Opener Fernando made 82 off 75 balls, helping Sri Lanka reach 242-3 in 44.4 overs after Bangladesh were restricted to 238-8, despite wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim making an unbeaten 98.
Fernando and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne set the tone for Sri Lanka’s run chase with a 71-run stand, before Bangladesh had their first success through off-spinner Mehidy Hasan.
Photo: AFP
Mehidy bowled Karunaratne for 15, but Fernando and Kusal Perera continued the hosts’ onslaught to put Sri Lanka, who won Friday’s opening game by 91 runs, firmly in control.
Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Fernando and Perera, who made 30 off 34 balls, in quick succession to revive Bangladesh’s hopes, but Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews denied them further success.
Mathews struck occasional leg-spinner Sabbir Rahman for a four to complete Sri Lanka’s win. He was unbeaten on 52 after facing 57 balls.
He was well supported by Mendis, 41 not out, in an unbroken 96-run fourth-wicket stand.
“I am disappointed to not get to the three-figure mark and hopefully I can convert my starts into bigger knocks in the future,” man-of-the-match Fernando said. “The track was a bit slow and also spun a bit. I am glad that I was able to make a contribution.”
Mustafizur finished with 2-50 for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh had Mushfiqur to thank for providing them something to fight with after their top order crumbled for the second time in the series.
Mushfiqur slammed six fours and a six in a 110-ball innings to bail out Bangladesh, who lost their first six wickets for 117 runs.
Mushfiqur and No. 8 Mehidy shared 84 runs, a seventh-wicket record for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka to give the visitors’ innings some respectability.
Mehidy made 43 off 46 balls with six fours before he was caught by Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne at mid-off off Nuwan Pradeep.
Pradeep, fellow pace bowler Isuru Udana and leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya claimed two wickets each.
The third and final match of the series is to be held at the same venue tomorrow.
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