Perera ton helps Sri Lanka win Malinga swansong
Published: 27 July 2019, 1:46:06
The stage was set. Tickets were sold out way before the game as Sri Lankans thronged to Colombo’s Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium to watch one of their modern day legends bowl for the last time. But even Lasith Malinga himself probably did not dream of signing off in such style. The way he bowled Tamim Iqbal, a yorker that left the Bangladesh opener completely lose his balance, will be etched in the mind of the fans for a long time. Soon another yorker undid Soumya Sarkar, leaving the Tigers, chaisng 315, three wickets down on 30, and the fate of the game was sealed. Batting first, Sri Lanka had made 314 for 8, riding on Kusal Perera’s 111 off 99 balls, thanks to 17 fours and a six. The hosts were dealt an early blow when Shafiul Islam removed opener Avishka Fernando with the score on 10, but Perera and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (36) then made 97 in the second wicket to repair the damage. When Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke that stand courtesy of a Mustafizur Rahman catch, Perera and Kusal Mendis added 100 runs in the third wicket partnership to keep the run wheel going. Perera’s innings was ended by Soumya Sarkar as Mustafiz took his second catch of the day, and Mendis, who made 43 off 49, soon followed him to the pavillion. What is remarkable is that Mendis walked off despite the umpire remaining unmoved to mild appeals from bowler Rubel Hossain and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Angelo Mathews added 48 off 52 balls while Lahiru Thirimanne contributed 25 to take the hosts to a healthy total. Malinga made an unbeaten run-a-ball six as he played his last innings with the willow. Shafiul was the most successful bowler with three wickets while Mustafizur Rahman bagged two, although he conceded 75 runs. Miraz, Rubel Hossain and Soumya Sarkar claimed one apiece. Bangladesh’s chase was derailed in the very first over when Malinga baffled Tamim and they never found a way back. After going down to 39 for 4, the half centuries Mushfiqur Rahim (67 off 86) and Sabbir Rahman (60 off 56) made only slashed the losing margin. Mustafizur Rahman hit three fours to make 18 in 14 balls to take the visitors past 200, but that man Malinga made him give a catch to Perera as the Tigers were bundled out for 223, conceding a 91-run defeat. Malinga ended the game with three wickets to his name, as did Nuwan Pradeep while Dhananjaya de Silva bagged two. That was Malinga’s 338th wicket, taken in his 226th ODI. And curtains were drawn on a legendary chapter. It was so apt that he claimed the day’s final wicket.