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DESPITE HOPES that the Bangladesh Cricket Team might be able to claw a consolation victory in the last of the three One Day International (ODI) matches, Sri Lanka emerged the victors after a strong batting performance.
Sri Lanka had been ahead in the batting skills throughout the series. Three of their players scored over 100 runs across the three matches – a feat achieved by only one Bangladesh batsman. Even batsmen who fell short of 100 did very well when runs were needed. And Sri Lanka’s top scorer, Angelo Mathews, was awarded man of the third match – and the series.
In contrast, three of the highest wicket takers were Bangladesh bowlers: it was just that they were taking the wickets after the Sri Lanka batsman had turned in a better score than their Bangladesh counterparts.
The third match was played on 31st July and Sri Lanka won a decisive victory by 122 runs. They reached 294/8 in their 50 overs. In reply, Bangladesh scored 172, before being all out for 172.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne put much of the team’s success down to the strength of his bench. He told the ICC that this had allowed him to bring in good players if someone was injured – but it also kept young players hungry, as they knew they could always be replaced if they lost form.
Karunaratne said that the ODI series had been an excellent start to what he saw as a four year campaign leading up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, which is to be played in India. If he had any doubts, it was with the team’s bowling, which he felt was one of the weaker elements of their game.
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal congratulated his team for a number of good performances, but he admitted that many players were just not on form – including himself. He personally was going to go home and have a rest – but work on the basics of his game in the hope that he would return to the team a stronger player.
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