Kusal Mendis’ stellar performance steers Sri Lanka to 2-1 ODI series win against Bangladesh | Cricket News
Sri Lanka secured a 2-1 ODI series victory against Bangladesh with a commanding 99-run win in the final match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, powered by Kusal Mendis’s outstanding innings of 124 runs from 115 balls, earning him the Player of the Series award.Sri Lanka posted a total of 285/7 in the decisive match, with Mendis’s sixth ODI century leading the charge. Bangladesh’s chase fell well short as they were dismissed for 186 runs in the 40th over.Mendis accumulated 225 runs across the three-match series, showcasing his batting prowess throughout the contest. His performance was particularly significant following his dismissal for 56 in the second match at Colombo, where Bangladesh had leveled the series with a 16-run victory.“Very pleased with the knock today. I was disappointed with what happened in Colombo. I had got a start and couldn’t finish. Here I was determined to bat through the innings and very satisfied,” Mendis said after the match.
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Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who contributed 28 runs in the final match, acknowledged his team’s inability to build substantial partnerships during their chase. He was one of only six Bangladesh batsmen to reach double figures in the match.“We just couldn’t put together partnerships like Sri Lanka. They had a big partnership after they lost three wickets for 100 runs. Partnerships in the middle overs are crucial. We got a couple of 40s, but winning is hard without these partnerships in ODI cricket,” Mehidy stated.The two teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming three-match T20I series, with the first game scheduled to take place in Pallekele on Thursday.
