SL WON
ODI
SL beat BAN by 91 runs
Man of the Match - Kusal Perera
SL
314-8
50.0/50 Ovrs
 
223-10
41.4/50 Ovrs
BAN
Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, 3 ODI Series, 2019 |1st ODI |7/26/2019
R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Commentary
  • Okay! The Malinga chapter is done in ODIs but what about this series? It has just begun! Will Bangladesh be able to bounce back and level the series? Will Sri Lanka be able to move on from the Slinga absence? Only time will tell. Join us on Sunday, 28th July, 2019 at 2.30 pm local (0900 GMT) for all the action from the second ODI. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
  • The fireworks go off and 'Thank you, Mali!' signboards go up in the stands. Boy, he will be missed. Those yorkers. Fast and furious. Then some with terrific change in pace, taking ever so long to come. But deadly accurate. Thank you, Lasith Malinga, for teaching us that it is not always archers who can be accurate. Thank you, for teaching us that it is not only bowlers with conventional action who can survive in this sport. A terrific competitor, but a humble human being. Wishing you a great future in whatever you do next, though there is plenty of T20 cricket still to come.
  • A long, emotional speech comes to an end at last. Another presentation. This time from Malinga, as he gives a token of appreciation to former Lankan fast bowling coach, Champaka Ramanayake. A wonderful gesture.
  • Lasith Malinga is now given a special token, with his family being invited as well. Time for the farewell speech. He chooses to do so in Sinhalese and the crowd goes wild.
  • Victorious Sri Lankan captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, says that all the team members supported him throughout the World Cup. Reckons that the Lankans were on the right path even during the mega tournament but they just needed some time to enhance. Believes that tournament opened up their plans to bat well consistently and that was witnessed in this game. On Malinga's final game, Karunaratne says that he egged his boys on to give their 200 percent for the legend. Admits that the Lankans need to find a couple of bowlers as Malinga's replacement but is happy with the performance of Lahiru Kumara. On the legend finally, Dimuth says that Malinga has been a great servant of Sri Lankan cricket, always stepping up when the captain needed him to and says that he will be missed, though he will be around in the T20Is.
  • Bangladesh captain, Tamim Iqbal, manages to put in a smile. Admits that he has been struggling with the bat over the last few weeks and needs to start performing. Praises his bowlers for coming back strongly towards the end as at one stage, they looked to be chasing 350. But is disappointed over the no-show with the bat. On missing the injured key players, Tamim says that he is happy with the squad of 15 that he has and it is just a matter of realizing one's role. Feels that there are still two more matches to go and if he starts scoring and everyone else chips in, things will change.
  • KUSAL PERERA HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH for his spectacular 111. First, he is asked as to how is he feeling since he did not take part in the second innings. Kusal says that it was a slight back niggle and he is feeling better now. On his batting innings, Perera says that the number 3 role suits him more and he played his shots, taking a calculated risk every now and then as Bangladesh were bowling well. On Lasith Malinga, Perera says that he is a legend, always helping and advising youngsters.
  • Take aside Lasith Malinga, there were quite a few positives for Sri Lanka in this game. But they need more of these and with some consistency. Where were these during the World Cup? Do they have the batsmen to step up when needed? Do they have seamers in store for the future? Sunday and Wednesday will give us a better indication. Time for the presentation...
  • 'Mali! Mali! Mali!' were the chants continuously as soon as the Lankans took the field in the second innings. And he did not disappoint. He knocked Tamim Iqbal's timber over and then had Soumya Sarkar dismissed in identical fashion. At 39/4, the game looked done and dusted and the 111-run stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman just delayed the inevitable. Nuwan Pradeep did a decent job with 3 scalps and fittingly in the end, it was Slinga who closed the game, with his third scalp.
  • Coming to the game, it was totally Sri Lanka. They put their best foot forward by winning the toss and though they lost Avishka Fernando early, Kusal Perera and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne took the game away with a 97-run stand. Perera's 111 knocked the wind out of Bangladesh's sails and even though they did come back towards the end, 314/8 was a big enough total on the board.
  • Lasith Malinga says that he has played the last 15 years for Sri Lanka and believes that it is time for the new generation to take over for the 2023 World Cup. Thanks the crowd for its continuous support. Is happy with the win. On his effort throughout his career, Malinga says that his captain always expected him to take a wicket and he tried his best. On the Lankan future, Lasith says that there are a couple of Lankan youngsters in the ranks and they should be looked after.
  • The legend is taking a walk around the park with one of the greatest Sri Lankan fans, if not the greatest, Percy, who is happy to follow him like a bodyguard. The Lankan star is taking a victory march, with Percy happily waving the Lankan flag around. He is now halted in his tracks, after completing the march, for a chat, by Roshan Abeysinghe.
  • Numbers. That is what the game is made up of. 35. Malinga's age. Just a number. 91. The victory margin for Sri Lanka tonight. Again, just another number. But the numbers that matter - 226 ODIs and 338 wickets. Goes past Anil Kumble and moves to number 9 in the list of leading wicket-takers in ODIs. 536 international wickets. Take a bow, Separamadu Lasith Malinga.
  • 41.4
    W
    L Malinga to M Rahman, OUT! Caught! Lasith Malinga fittingly takes the final wicket of the match! He stands there with his arms aloft in the air and the Lankan supporters are on their feet, to applaud their favourite son. A length ball outside off, slightly slower, Mustafizur backs away and aims to hit this over mid off. But he only skies it high in the air and it is a pressure catch for Thisara Perera. Yes, pressure catch because it could be the final time he would be involved in helping Mali take a wicket. He runs back from short extra cover, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes it over his head. SRI LANKA WIN BY 91 RUNS!
  • 41.3
    1
    L Malinga to R Hossain, Almost! A slower ball outside off, Rubel backs away, aiming to steer it towards third man but is defeated by the lack of pace. Somehow, the ball hits the bat and deflects behind point. A single taken.
  • 41.2
    0
    L Malinga to R Hossain, A yorker outside off, squeezed straight to point.
  • 41.1
    4
    L Malinga to R Hossain, FOUR! That has stunned the crowd into silence. A length ball, around middle, Rubel swings it cleanly over mid-wicket, a bounce and into the fence!
  • END OF OVER 41 | 14 Runs & 0 Wkt | BAN 218/9
  • Last 6 balls (technically) of Malinga's ODI career. Could be last 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 ball also...
  • 40.6
    4
    N Pradeep to M Rahman, FOUR! Edgy but will do for Bangladesh. Pradeep bowls it on the off side on a good length, Rahman tries to drive it towards cover but gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies between 3rd slip and gully and races away towards the third man fence for a boundary.
  • 40.5
    2
    N Pradeep to M Rahman, Yorker this time by Pradeep, the Fizz heaves it over point. The fielders cut it off before it reaches the boundary and the batters take two.
  • 40.4
    0
    N Pradeep to M Rahman, Bouncer by Pradeep, at full pace on middle and leg. Rahman somehow ducks and gets out of the way of the ball.
  • 40.3
    0
    N Pradeep to M Rahman, Backs away to the leg side and Pradeep fires it wide outside off. The Fizz lets it go.
  • 40.2
    4
    N Pradeep to M Rahman, FOUR! Off the edge this time! Gosh - how did the bat come down in time? A full and fast ball, in line of the stumps, Mustafizur looks to protect his left leg, getting it out of the way but manages to get his bat down in time. The ball goes off the outside edge, towards second slip, but wide of the diving Dhananjaya de Silva, to the third man fence.
  • 40.1
    4
    N Pradeep to M Rahman, FOUR! Full ball just outside off, Rahman makes room for himself and plays it over the covers for a boundary.