TVS ODI Series Third Match Played at R Premadasa Stadium , Colombo
Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh

Brief Scorecard
Sri Lanka 294/8 ( AD Matthews 87, BKG Mendis 54, FDM Karunaratne 46, MDKJ Perera 42, MD Shanaka 30, Soumya Sarkar 3/56 ,Shafiul Islam 3/68) beat Bangladesh 172 All out in 36 Overs ( Soumya Sarkar 69 ,Taijul Islam 39 ,MD Shanaka 3/27, CAK Rajitha 2/17,CBRLS Kumara 2/26)

Player of The Match: Angelo Matthews

Impressive Sri Lanka clinically inflicted comprehensive ODI series whitewash winning three matches in succession at R Premadasa Stadium against Bangladesh. The first match (farewell match of great Lasith Malinga) was won by 91 runs, the second by 7 wicket and third (dedicated to Nuwan Kulashekera) was won by 122 runs. Wrapping up the series by the second match Sri Lanka appeared with the four reserve players GJNFG Jayasuria, CAK Ranjita, MD Shanaka and CBRLS Kumara resting their four front line players Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Lahiru Thrimane and Akila Dhananjaya. Yet pathetic Bangladesh failed regrouping and playing like a frustrated and dejected unit abjectly surrendered. Top players Tamim, Mahmudullah extended their poor pathetic form. Mithun, Sabbir looked pretty ordinary.

Mushfiq could not repeat his solo good form. Only Soumya (69) batted to his best ability and Taijul (39) was a saving grace. Bangladesh getting comprehensive whitewash against a new look Sri Lanka possibly one of their weakest side in recent times again demonstrated that something is very wrong in the team chemistry and management. In a month time what might have happened that most of the Bangladesh players forgot the fundamentals of playing cricket. Premadasa wicket was neither a mine field for the batsmen nor Sri Lanka had penetrative fast bowlers or world class spinners. It was poor mind set and shocked awed psyche of players that brought ignominy. Winning and losing is part of the game. But Bangladesh getting such cruel battering against a not too strong team demands soul searching.

Players like Tamim and Mushfiq in the team and Shakib from Dhaka mentioned Bangladesh has quality and strength for bouncing back even after losing the series after second match. Only a month before in CWC 2019, when the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was rained out all thought Bangladesh was deprived of two sure points. True Shakib, Mashrafe and Saifuddin are not in the team. But in that situation also such a one sided series is totally unacceptable. Players like Tamim and Mahmudullah can not justify their awful performance. Perhaps they can see the end of their career looming. Mithun and Sabbir could not justify the favor they get. The bowling looked pretty ordinary. The only positives may be Soumya appearing as a useful all rounder, Shafiul and Taijul playing their parts. The team would require comprehensive overhauling. 

After the series was lost through back to back defeats in two out of two Bangladesh was expected to bounce back. They should have played for pride. World class performer Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah were expected to redeem. Sri Lanka resting their four front line players offered opportunity. Bangladesh had two changes. Anamul Bijoy was included in place of Mosaddek. Perhaps a mistake. Instead of Mosaddek, Mithun should have been replaced. Rubel came in place of Mustfiz picking a niggled at the last minute. Losing the toss Bangladesh had to field. The only time when Bangladesh was in the match was the first 10 overs when Shafiul looked very impressive seaming and swinging the ball. Tamim should not have changed and rotate his limited bowling options so frequently. Once the early movement was gone Bangladeshis bowlers failed to keep the momentum going. First Kumaratne (46) and Perera( 42) and then Mathhews (87) and  Mendis (54) batted Sri Lanka very strongly into the game. 294/8 on an apparently sluggish wicket was way beyond the reach of Bangladesh.

Yet Bangladesh was expected to bat well. Malinga hanged up his boots after the first match. There was no Pradeep or Udana. Still poor looking Tamim could not get back form. After getting clean bowled in the previous two ODIs he managed to nick behind off Rajitha scoring only 2 in 6 balls stay. Tamim should start thinking his honorable exit. His feet are not moving in the right direction. Anamul given another opportunity to showcase his class failed again. After playing two delightful strokes in the fourth and fifth ball of Ranjitha over he threw away his wicket trying another adventurous stroke in the 6th. Bangladesh was reduced to 2/29 by the 8th over. Soumya finally got back his sweet touch and started playing some delightful strokes. But Mushfiq for a change failed on the day getting out to Shanaka. Mithun came and went. Bangladesh was looking terrible at 4/60 by the 16th over. Toothless tigers Mahmudullah and Sabbir kept the tradition of one way traffic. Mahmudullah in 3 ODIs scored all together 18 runs. It is time he should also let youngsters step into his shoes. Sabbir also is no longer a player he was thought to be. Bangladesh soon became 7/117. The end was in sight. However Soumya and Taijul made some efforts. But that only reduced the margin of humiliation. Soumya scored 69 and Taijul remained not out 39. Bangladesh got bundled out for 172 losing by a huge margin of 122. An abject surrender to a comprehensive whitewash. Sri Lanka crawled closer to Bangladesh in ICC ranking. Shanaka, Kumara and Ranjitha included in the team from reserve were the bowling heroes for the Lankans. 

We must not take away any credit from Sri Lankans. Right from their CWC 2019 match against World Champion England the team has turned around. Most of the quality young players are shaping up into great prospects for the future. Fernando, Kumaratne, Perera, Mendis are maturing well into the shoes of Snatah Jayasuriya, Marvan Attapatu, Kumara Sangakara and Mahela Jayawardene. Veteran Angelo Mathhews and Lahiru Thirmanne give them depth. Sri Lanka has got some quality young all-rounders in Shanka, Dhananjaya De Silva. They have Nuwan Pradeep and Isuru Udana for taking care of new ball attack. Lahiru Kumara may also grow. We can see Sri Lanka growing in composure soon. However, even after all these Sri Lankan government wants to leave their home grown coach Chandika Haturasinghe. 

Bangladesh on the other hand hurriedly cancelled the contract of better performing head coach Steve Rhodes, did not extend contracts of bowling coaches Courtney Walsh and Sunil Joshey and fitness coach. They however retained services of controversial Manager cum BCB Director cum BEXIMCO Employee cum Coach of Dhaka Dynamites and Abahoni KC Khaled Mahmud Sujon. Additionally he was made interim coach for the Lanka series. During the series a photograph of him gambling at a Colombo casino got viral in social media. When someone gets a national duty he comes under certain code of conduct. Remember a Pakistan Coach was removed for gambling in Casino during a tournament. 

BCB will somehow find some excuse. They will not have time to objectively review the lopsided performance of Bangladesh team in the Lanka tour. Neither had they objectively assessed the performance of CWC 2019. The conspirators against head coach were rewarded. The interim head coach in Sri Lanka masterminded the disaster of white wash at the hands of the home side. A mischief monger deserves disciplining. Bangladesh must seriously think of blooding fresh legs in the national team washing off emotions. Players who served Bangladesh exceptionally well in the past and no longer fit mentally and physically should be given fitting farewell through benefit matches. Controversial BCB officials must be disciplined or removed BCB is a national organization for serving national interest. We know Bangladesh is not a team to embrace such ignominy.   There must be credible probe into disaster and anatomy clinically done. We must move on. 

BDST: 1025 HRS, AUG 1, 2019
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