Kumar Sangakkara continued his awesome batting form in Bangladesh as Sri Lanka won the second one-dayer by 61 runs in Dhaka on Thursday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The left-hander, who scored 319 and 105 in the second Test earlier this month after making 75 in the first Test, hit a fluent 128 off 115 balls to lift Sri Lanka to 289-6.
Bangladesh, facing a must-win situation after losing the first match, caved in under pressure and were dismissed for 228 with seven overs to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 79 off 83 balls and opener Anamul Haque made 42, but none of the other batsmen settled in as Sri Lanka grabbed wickets at regular intervals.
Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera and Ajantha Mendis picked up two wickets each, while part-timer Ashan Priyanjan took one.
The series win sealed Sri Lanka’s domination during the month-long tour where they won the two-Test series 1-0 and secured both the Twenty20 matches. The final one-dayer will be played on Saturday.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews said the win was just the boost his team needed ahead of the five-nation Asia Cup one-day tournament, which opens in Bangladesh on Tuesday.
“The boys played brilliantly,” he said. “We were in a spot of bother when Sangakkara came in to bat and he guided the innings wonderfully.
“This series helped us prepare for the Asia Cup. Hopefully we will do well there too.”
Bangladesh’s Rahim rued the lack of partnerships during his team’s innings.
“The way the boys are getting out is really disappointing,” he said. “When you get settled, especially while chasing 290, you should stay on and play a big innings.
“I hope we win the last match. We are playing for our country so the last match is still important for us even though we may have lost the series.”
Priyanjan (60) helped Sangakkara put on 114 for the fourth wicket after the tourists, who elected to bat, were reduced to 63-3 by the 13th over.
Mathews lifted the total with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls, having added 83 for the fifth wicket with Sangakkara.
Bangladesh seamer Rubel Hossain removed openers Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan by the eighth over, before Sohag Gazi dismissed Dinesh Chandimal to open up the middle order.
Priyanjan, a 24-year-old right-hander playing his fourth one-dayer, hit seven boundaries before he was trapped leg-before by left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
Sangakkara reached his 17th one-day century with a four through the covers off Rubel and celebrated the landmark by dabbing the next ball to third man for another boundary.
Sangakkara slammed 14 boundaries before he was caught in the deep in the 47th over attempting another big shot off Arafat Sunny.
The tourists brought in spinner Mendis in place of the injured Nuwan Kulasekara, while Bangladesh dropped Al-Amin Hossain to play experienced seamer Mashrafe Mortaza.
sports@thenational.ae
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
