Nuwan Thushara picked up 5 wickets including a hat-trick and became the fifth Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick in T20Is as Sri Lanka won the third and final T20 match against Bangladesh by 28 runs and won the series 2-1 in Sylhet yesterday (9).
Bangladesh Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and decided to bowl first.
After a suspension, regular Captain Wanindu Hasaranga took over the responsibility of leading the Sri Lankan team again. Matheesha Pathirana, Avishka Fernando, and Dilshan Madushanka were replaced by Captain Wanindu, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Nuwan Thushara.
Kusal Mendis opened the innings for Sri Lanka with Dhananjaya, who managed only 8 runs with the bat.
Kamindu Mendis perished cheaply for 12 runs, after which skipper Wanindu changed the batting order and joined Kusal Mendis at the crease. The pair added 59 runs for the third wicket.
Wanindu scored only 15 runs while his deputy only managed 6, which put Sri Lanka in a spot of bother at 4 for 133. Mathews joined Mendis at the wicket, but Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Mendis, who was playing an excellent innings. Mendis scored 86 off 55 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes each.
A late impetus from Dasun Shanaka meant Sri Lanka posted 174 runs in their allotted 20 overs. In the last 5 overs of Sri Lanka’s innings, three wickets were lost and only 39 runs were added to the scoreboard.
Mathews opened the bowling for Sri Lanka but was forced off the field due to what looked like a groin injury. Dhananjaya had to complete that over and immediately dismissed Litton Das’s wicket.
Then came Thushara who cleaned up both Najmul Shanto and Towhid Hridoy in consecutive deliveries. The hat-trick ball was on the money again and he found Mahmudullah plumb in front to complete his hat-trick.
Captain Wanindu joined the party with two wickets to have the hosts reeling at 76 for 7 wickets.
However, Rishad Hossain, who gave some life to the Bangladesh innings, scored 53 runs from 30 balls with 7 sixes. Taskin Ahmed also chipped in with 31 runs from 21 balls.
However, Nuwan Thushara, who bowled the 18th and last over of the innings, managed to pick up Shoriful Islam to complete his five-for.
Man of the Match: Nuwan Thushara
Man of the Tournament: Kusal Mendis
Sri Lanka
Dhananjaya de Silva c Soumya Sarkar b Taskin Ahmed 8
Kusal Mendis c Soumya Sarkar b Taskin Ahmed 86
Kamindu Mendis c Shoriful Islam b Rishad Hossain 12
Wanindu Hasaranga (C) c Shoriful Islam b Mustafizur Rahman 15
Charith Asalanka c Mustafizur Rahman b Shoriful Islam 3
Angelo Mathews c Soumya Sarkar b Rishad Hossain 10
Dasun Shanaka run out (Rishad Hossain/†Litton Das) 19
Sadeera Samarawickrama not out 0
Extras (b 5, lb1, w8) 14
Total 174/7 in 20 ov (RR: 8.7)
Did not bat: Mahesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara
Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 3.1 ov), 2-52 (Kamindu Mendis, 7.4 ov), 3-111 (Wanindu Hasaranga, 12.5 ov), 4-133 (Charith Asalanka, 14.4 ov), 5-140 (Kusal Mendis, 16.4), 6-152 (Angelo Mathews, 17.5 ov), 7-174 (Dasun Shanaka, 19.6 ov)
Bowling: Shoriful Islam (4-0-28-1), Taskin Ahmed (4-0-25-2), Mahedi Hasan (3-0-22-0), Mustafizur Rahman (4-0-47-1), Rishad Hossain (4-0-35-2), Soumya Sarkar (1-0-11-0)
Bangladesh
Litton Das c Shanaka b de Silva 7
Soumya Sarkar b Thushara 11
Najmul Hossain Shanto (C) b Thushara 1
Towhid Hridoy b Thishara 0
Mahmudullah Ibw b Thushara 0
Jaker Ali Ibw b Hasaranga 4
Mahedi Hasan b Hasaranga 19
Rishad Hossain c Samarawickrama b Theekshana 53
Taskin Ahmed c de Silva b Shanaka 31
Shoriful Islam c Shanaka b Thushara
Mustafizur Rahman not out 7
Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 7) 9
Total 146 in 19.4 ov (RR: 7.42)
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Litton Das, 2.2 ov), 2-15 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 3.2 ov), 3-15 (Towhid Hridoy, 3.3 ov), 4-15 (Mahmudullah, 3.4 ov), 5-24 (Soumya Sarkar, 5.3 ov), 6-32 (Jaker Ali, 8.1 ov), 7-76 (Mahedi Hasan, 13.2 ov), 8-117 (Rishad Hossain, 16.5 ov), 9-134 (Shoriful Islam, 17.6 ov), 10-146 (Taskin Ahmed, 19.4 ov)
Bowling: Angelo Mathews (1.1-0-5-0), Binura Fernando (4-0-39-0) Dhananjaya de Silva (0.5-0-2-1), Nuwan Thushara (4-1-20-5), Wanindu Hasaranga (4-0-32-2), Maheesh Theekshana (4-0-35-1), Dasun Shanaka (1.4-0-11-1)