Dhaka – Bangladesh will need to complete an uphill task for maiden win in the tri-nation Nidahas Trophy as host Sri Lanka posted 214/6 in the 3rd T20I of the seven-match tournament at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.Sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka played 20 overs for their collection where two wicketkeeper batsmen Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis hammered half centuries.Perera scored 74 off 48 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes, and shared a partnership of 85 off 9.1 overs in the 2nd wicket with Mendis who was caught by Sabbir Rahman off skipper Mahmudullah Riyad on 141/2 in 13.2 overs, after scoring 57 off 30 balls, including two boundaries and five over boundaries.Left-handed batsman Perera again contributed in the quick firing 5th stand of 55 off 4.2 overs with Upul Tharanga (32* off 15b; 4×4; 1×6) before he was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mustafizur Rahman on 205/5 in 19.2 overs.Sri Lankans were aggressive from the start of the innings as their opening pair between Danushka Gunathilaka and Mendis contributed 56 off 4.3 overs before pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman bowled out opener MD Gunathilaka (26 off 19b; 3×4; 1×6) for Bangladesh’s first breakthrough.To complete his three for 48 in four overs, Mustafizur sent off left handed all-rounder Thisara Perera, caught by Nazmul Islam, with duck on 206/6 on 19.4 overs.Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad got two wickets for 15 in two overs while Taskin Ahmed took one for 40 in three overs for the Tigers.UNB news agency
