Ban in SL: Bangladesh lose high-scoring warm-up game by 2 runs

After the impressive performance to win their 100th Test match, Bangladesh lost their one-off warm-up One Day match against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President's XI by 2 runs in a high-scoring game at CCC ground on Wednesday (22).

Put into bat first SLC President's XI piled up 354 for 7 wickets while Bangladesh were restricted to 352 for 8 wickets in their run-chase. 

Kusal Perera and Sandun Weerakkody scored half centuries by hitting 64 runs off 78 balls and 67 runs off 54 balls respectively while Thissara Perera clobbered 41 off 30 deliveries to put the hosts in a strong position. 

Bangladesh too looked well on track for a possible win with four of their batsmen scoring half centuries. 

Sabbir Rahman (72 off 63 balls), Mosaddek Hossain (53 off 50 balls), Mahmudullah (71 not out off 68 balls) and skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (58 off 25 balls) put Bangladesh in a strong position while keeping hopes alive for a thrilling win, which was far from reality in the end.

Spinner Akila Dananjaya picked three wickets while Chathuranga de Silva claimed two scalps. 

The first ODI of the three-match series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be played on Saturday (25) at Dambulla.

SLC President’s XI 354 for 7 wickets (50) (Dilshan Munaweera 24, Kusal Perera 64, Sandun Weerakkody 67, Milinda Siriwardana 32, Dhananjaya de Silva 52, Chaturanga de Silva 28, Thissara Perera 41, Dasun Shanaka 26n.o.)

Bangladesh 352 for 8 wickets (50) (Soumya Sarkar 47, Sabbir Rahman 72, Mushfiqur Rahim 20, Mosaddek Hossain 53, Mahmudullah 71n.o., Mashrafe Mortaza 58, Akila Dananjaya 3/61, Chaturanga de Silva 2/53)