Sports Desk:

Lasith Malinga earned himself a perfect farewell with 3-38 as Sri Lanka crushed an out-of-sort Bangladesh by 91 runs in the first one-day international to take a 1-0 lead in three-match series in Colombo on Friday.

Malinga produced two spectacular yorkers to dismiss both Bangladeshi openers Tamim Iqbal (0) and Soumya Sarkar (15) to reduce Bangladesh to 39-4 in the process and the Tigers were unable to recover from the damage.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman offered a glimmer of hope wit 111-run stand but once Dhananjaya de Silva broke their partnership, Bangladesh stuttered to 223 all out replying to Sri Lanka’s 314-8.

Sabbir defied the odds to hit 60 off 56 balls before Mushfiq leapfrogged him to score highest 67 balls but they were unable to take Bangladesh even close in a packed R Premadasa Stadium.

Kusal Perera earlier toyed with Bangladesh’s ordinary bowling to bring his fifth one-day international hundred while Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis made meaningful contributions to set up a strong total.

Perera struck 111 off 99 balls with 17 fours and a six and gave Sri Lanka a rollicking start before Mathews and Mendis scored 48 and 43 runs respectively to help the hosts score their highest ODI total against Bangladesh at their home soil.

Bangladeshi bowlers made some comeback in last 10 overs of Sri Lanka innings giving away just 69 runs and taking four wickets in the process to prevent them from posting a bigger total.

Shafiul Islam was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with 3-62 while Mustafizur Rahman claimed 2-75.

Shafiul drew the first blood for Bangladesh when he had opener Avishka Fernando caught by Soumya at slip for seven.

Perera joined Dimuth Karunaratne to punish Bangladesh’s poor bowling by adding 97 runs for the second wicket before the Tigers had their next success.

Perera was reprieved on 49 when third umpire Marais Erasmus overturned a caught behind decision.

Mehedi removed Karunaratne for 36 but Perera continued his onslaught to bring his century off 82 balls.

Part-timer Soumya ended his valiant knock as he was caught at short fine leg by Mustafiz, which also broke the 100-run stand for the third wicket with Mendis.

Mendis, who was dropped on 28 by Mahmudullah off Soumya, was caught behind in the next over to Rubel Hossain.

Mendis walked after a muted appeal for caught behind from wicketkeeper Mushfiq and bowler Rubel.

Mathews ensured Sri Lanka’s total past 300-run mark with 48 off 52 balls. Mustafiz scalped him before Shafiul gave Sri Lankan tail a torrid time.

Retiring Malinga was unbeaten on six in his final ODI innings.

Chasing a stiff target, Bangladesh lost Tamim in the fifth ball of their innings who, had to surrender against a deadly Yorker of Malinga that uprooted his leg stump.

Nuwan Pradeep trapped one-down Mohammad Mithun leg-before for 10 and Malinga bowled out opener Soumya Sarkar for 15 in the next over.

Lahiru Kumara compounded Bangladesh’s problem once he removed Mahmudullah for three.

Sabbir came from nowhere to offer some counter punch and found a worthy companion in Mushfiq but the challenge was too much for them to overcome.

Sri Lanka’s victory turned into mere formally once de Silva forced Sabbir to give a catch at deep midwicket.

Malinga took the final wicket fittingly to end the brief entertainment of Mustafizur Rahman, who made 18 off 14 balls before giving a catch to Thisara Perera at mid-off.