Mushfiqur Rahim reached his eighth ODI century as Bangladesh secured its first ODI series win over Sri Lanka with a 103-run DLS victory in the second game interrupted by rain on Tuesday.
In an inning twice stopped by rain, the wicket hitter scored 125 off 127 balls with 10 fours and Bangladesh was eliminated by 246 in 48.1 overs. It was Bangladesh’s first series win against Sri Lanka in three formats.
Sri Lanka was 126-9 after 38 overs when rain interrupted play for the third time. Sri Lanka set a revised goal of 245 in 40 overs, which means they needed 119 runs from the final two overs. The visitors finished at 141-9.
Bangladesh won by 33 runs on Sunday in the first of their three-game series. The final match is on Friday.
Mushfiqur, who scored 84 in the opener, helped Bangladesh rebound from a shaky start after captain Tamim Iqbal opted to hit first.
Sri Lanka fast pitcher Dushmantha Chameera used the early moisture of the wicket well to swing the ball both ways.
His inswinger counted both Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan in the space of three balls in the second over, leaving Bangladesh 15-2.
Chameera reviewed her leg appeal before the wicket against Tamim, who scored 13, successfully overturn the referee’s decision. Later, he also got Shakib (0) via leg-before.
Liton Das, out of shape, struggled to make 25 against 42, with two fours before left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan passed him with a delivery that turned sharply.
Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah shared a place of 87 on the fifth wicket to help Bangladesh strike back. Mushfiqur reached his half-century sweeping Sandakan with two of 70 balls.
Mahmudullah, who scored 54 in the previous game, was also on the verge of his second 50 in a row, but his premeditated paddle sweep cost him the window as he was 41 of 58 with four and two sixes.
Mushfiqur was at 85 and 96 respectively when rain stopped the game twice when Sri Lanka was at the top, leaving Bangladesh 184-7 in 38th.
Mushfiqur reached the well-deserved 114-ball century with a look down the thin leg for the Chameera limit.
Saifuddin, who ran out of 11, was hit on his helmet by a Chameera delivery and Taskin Ahmed replaced him as a concussion sub.
Chameera and Sandakan claimed three plots each for Sri Lanka, while Isuru Udana collected two.
Sri Lanka got off to a cautious start, but Bangladeshi bowlers made regular strives to always be on top.
Shoriful Islam (1-30) fired captain Kusal Perera (14) to start his debut wicket.
The spinners then took center stage with the wicket slowing down.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (2-38) and secondary spinner Mehidy Hasan (3-28) broke Sri Lanka’s middle order. Pacer Mustafizur Rahman finished 3-16.
Starter Danushka Gunathilaka was the team’s leading scorer with 24 and Pathum Nissanka had 20. Udana was not out with 18.
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