DHAKA, July 8 , 2025 (BSS)- Kusal Mendis hit a brilliant century as Sri Lanka took the three-match ODI series 2-1, thrashing Bangladesh by 99 runs in the third and final game at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today.

Kusal blasted a 114 ball-124 to lead Sri Lanka to a challenging 285-7, a total that they comfortably defended by wrapping up Bangladesh for 186 in 39.2 overs.

Sri Lanka's seam pair of Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando caused the havoc by sharing six wickets.
Towhid Hridoy made team best 51, his consecutive second fifty plus knock in the series before falling to Chameera, finishing with 3-51.

Opener Parvez Hossain Emon and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 28 each. Dunith Wellalage removed both of them to eventually claim 2-33.

Fernando who returned figures of 3-33, gave the side a breakthrough, having rattled the stump of Tanzid Hasan Tamim with a toe-crushing inswinging yorker.

Tanzid who made a boundary-filled start was unable to evade that pinpoint yorker that ended his promising 13 ball-17.

Chameera dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto for a three-ball-duck with similar delivery before Emon and Hridoy looked to have steadied the ship.

Wellalage broke the 42-run partnership by getting rid of Emon before he got the side another breakthrough when Miraz and Hridoy kept the things under control.

Wellalage denied the duo prolonging the partnership, having taken the wicket of Miraz.

Wanindu Hasaranga stepped up at this phase to further torment Bangladesh. He had Shamim Patwari stumped for 12 to leave Bangladesh five down for 124 in 28th over.

Chameera then returned to his second spell to dismiss Hridoy as Bangladesh’s hope to win the game was completely shattered.
Jaker Ali fought as usually to make 27 before falling to Fernando as the ninth batter and Hasaranga wrapped up Bangladesh innings, getting the better of Tanvir Islam.

Earlier, after an early setback following the captain Charith Asalanka’s decision to bat first, Kusal steadied the ship with an eye-catching 114 ball-124, an innings laced with 18 boundaries.

He was ably supported by Asalanka who made 58 off 68, including nine four.

They set the platform of the challenging total with a 124-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Led by Taskin Ahmed who finished with 2-51, Bangladesh bounced back into the game in the death overs, denying Sri Lanka lower order batting in aggressive mode.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz also took two wickets for 48 runs and played an important part in tying down the batters in the middle overs.

The breakthrough came from Tanzim Hasan Sakib who undid Nishan Madushka (1) in the fourth over before Kusal shared a 56-run run with Pathum Nissanka for the second wicket.
While Kusal found the gap with ease to rotate the scoreboard, Nissanka was struggling, particularly against spinners—Miraz and Tanvir Islam.

Tanvir eventually got him when he swept straight to deep square leg for 35. Miraz then trapped Kamindu Mendis leg-before for 16, leaving Sri Lanka 100-3 in 21st over.

With Asalanka looking in good touch, Kusal went after the bowlers in emphatic fashion and picked up his sixth century off 95 balls, driving Miraz to long-on for a single.

By the time, Asalanka who struck a century in the first match, reached his 16th fifty off 60 balls, also driving Miraz wide of cover for a single.

Taskin returned to his second spell to break the dangerous partnership as Asalanka holed out a low full toss to the long-on.

Shamim Patwari then got the key wicket of Kusal by removing him with a return catch as Sri Lanka’s innings faced a hiccup.
Amid Bangladesh bowlers’ good work in the death overs, Hasaranga played a cameo (18 not out) to take the side closer to 290.