Right! Two intriguing matches in Colombo, where 240 ended up being a par score. Both sides will rue the missed chances in either of those games, so the series status reflects fairly. We now move to Pallekele for the third and final ODI, with the pitch and combinations keeping the think tank on their toes. The match is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, 8th July, 2025, with the first ball at 9 am GMT, but our buildup will begind well in advance. So do tune in early. In the meantime, you can check out how the Ashes rivals are performing in their respective Tests across two continents. Enjoy. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The victorious skipper of Bangladesh, MEHIDY HASAN MIRAZ, confidently says that he believed that 248 was enough as everyone saw in the last match that 240 was difficult to chase. On what was going through his mind when Madushka and Kusal Mendis were batting, or even when Janith Liyanage was playing, Mehidy says he just told Tanvir (during the second wicket stand) that his side needs those two wickets as without wickets Bangladesh cannot win. Stresses that he just thinks positively and searches for wickets and moves ahead. On his young side doing well, Miraz admits that it has been tough but still his unit is trying. Is happy that his players came back strongly and hopes to have a great match in the final ODI.

The captain of Sri Lanka, CHARITH ASALANKA, on being asked whether the toss mattered, does not feel that it did. Feels that in the first half, his bowlers did a great job, restricting Bangladesh under 250 after they got a great start. Bluntly says that it was the batting which let them down and all the batters barring Janith Liyanage should take responsibility. On being asked whether the wicket of Kusal Mendis was the key, Asalanka smiles and admits that both, Mendis' and Madushka 's wickets were key but after that, himself and the middle order could not capitalize. Regarding a tough wicket to bat upon, Charith denies it, saying that it was a bit different in the second innings but once his batters got a start like that, they should not be saying anything about the pitch. On the must-win third ODI, CA says that it is 1-1 now and a must-win game, so will have a chat with the group and come hard again.

BANGLADESH'S TANVIR ISLAM HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his brilliant bowling figures of 5/39. Through a translator, Tanvir conveys that he felt well on claiming his maiden 5-fer. Adds that he bowled in the right areas. Details that the wicket was much better as compared to the one in the last game. Feels that hence, bowling was challenging, but he stuck to bowling tight lines. On his belief whether 248 was defendable, Tanvir says that his captain gave him confidence and asked him to bowl with an open heart. Further says that he was asked to try to contain and that's what pumped him up.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier, in the first innings, Bangladesh huffed and puffed to 248. It was a determined batting approach, much improved from the first game, where the batters tried to have some kind of a partnership. Half centuries from Parvez Hossain Emon and Tawhrid Hridoy kept the visitors on good stead but they lost their way towards the end. From 204/5, they collapsed to 218/9 and had it not been for a crucial 10-wicket stand of 30 between Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mustafizur Rahman, the match result would have been different. Asitha Fernando bowled his heart out, picking up 4 wickets while Hasaranga continued his good form, picking up 3 wickets. Please stay tuned for the presentation ...

Full marks to Bangladesh. They were hammered with the new balls but they did not lose belief or hope. They trusted themselves and found a way to get that second wicket. And once they got that, started running through the batting lineup. Then again, towards the end, they managed to keep their calm even when Liyanage was going well. Some pressure was even being seen on the visitors, dropping as many as 3 catches but luckily for them, they did not come back to haunt the visitors. Tanvir Islam and Shamim Hossain were the chief destructors, choking the Lankans with combined figures of 19-3-61-6. Tanvir went on to pick up his maiden 5-fer as well while Mehidy chipped in with some economical bowling as well. Pace was not Bangladesh's friend in this game but when it mattered, Mustafizur bowled really well at the death. 

There was a reason why both captains wanted to bat first at the toss. In the absence of dew, the ball was not quite coming onto the bat in the second innings, post the 10th over. The Lankans got off to a flier racing to 75/1 in the 10th over. However. once Nishan Madushka was dismissed, the wickets started to fall regularly and the match started to go out of the Lankans' grasp. However, Janith Liyanage held one end and kept fighting, as late as the 48th over, registering a 58-run stand for the 9th wicket with Chameera, but unfortunately for the home side, it was too much to do for one player.

Finally, the losing streak ends for Bangladesh. They have been on a 7-match losing streak in ODIs, with their previous win coming way back in November 2024, against Afghanistan in Sharjah. It is also just their 5th win in ODIs in Sri Lanka.

Asitha Fernando is the last batter in, replacing Janith Liyanage.