COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka clinched their first ODI series win at home after November 2015 today, when they beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets in the 2nd ODI of the 3 match series. Today’s win gave Sri Lanka an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3 match series.

The game which was worked off at the R. Premadasa stadium saw Bangladeshi skipper Tamim Iqbal winning the toss and opting to bat first. Bangladesh got off to a very shaky start losing their top 3 batsmen for just  52 runs.

However, a stubborn, unbeaten inning of 98 by Mushfiqur Rahim powered the visitors to a score of 238 for the loss of 8 wickets in their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka who began their run chase under lights got off to a strong start thanks to some aggressive batting by opener Avishka Fernando. Playing in his 12th ODI inning, Fernando scored his second half-century before being undone by Mustafizur  Rahman for 82.

Kusal Perera kept the scoreboard ticking for Sri Lanka with a 34 ball 30. The scoring rate dropped after Perera’s dismissal, however, Kusal Mendis and former skipper Angelo Mathews batted sensibly and guided Sri Lanka to victory by the 45th over.

Mathews reached his half-century off the last ball of the innings with a boundary and ended unbeaten on 52. Kusal Mendis was not out on 41.

Avishka Fernando was named the man of the match

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