Mendis ‘drives’ Sri Lanka to Twenty20 series sweep
Bangladesh loss by 75 runs
SYLHET, Bangladesh, Feb 18, (AFP): Opener Kusal Mendis hit a blazing half-century as Sri Lanka thrashed Bangladesh by 75 runs in the second Twenty20 to complete a 2-0 series sweep on Sunday.
Sri Lanka rode on Mendis’ 70 off 42 deliveries to post 210-4 and then bowled out the hosts for 135 in Sylhet.
Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad topscored for Bangladesh with 41 before being run out, with opener Tamim Iqbal making the only other meaningful contribution with 29.
Sri Lanka paceman Shehan Madushanka, who left the field with an injured hamstring after bowling just 2.1 overs, and off-spinner Danushka Gunathilaka claimed two wickets each.
But it was Mendis who once again stood out for the visitors with his second successive fifty of the series, as his 98-run stand with fellow opener Gunathilaka gave Sri Lanka a solid start after being put into bat first.
Mendis, who was named both man of the match and series, hit six fours and three sixes in reaching his T20 international
Sri Lanka cricketer Kusal Mendis poses for a photo with the Man of the Match and the Man of the Series trophies following the presentation ceremony the end of the second Twenty20 (T20) cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
in Sylhet on Feb 18. (AFP)
career-best score, taking the attack to the opposition while Gunathilaka at the other end made a brisk 42.
Bangladesh dropped Gunathilaka twice on 15 and 28 and had to wait until the 11th over for their first success in the game.
Number three Thisara Perera chipped in with a quickfire 31. Upul Tharanga then hit 25, and Dasun Shanaka smashed an unbeaten 30 off 11 balls, to lift the score past the 200run mark.
In reply, Bangladesh lost three early wickets for just 22 runs and never caught up with the ever-increasing required run-rate.
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