Kusal hits ton as Sri Lanka poised for big total

Sri Lanka are steadily heading towards a big total riding on Kusal Perera’s century against Bangladesh in the first match of three-match ODI series at Colombo on Friday.

The left-handed top-order batsman hit his fastest ODI ton off 82 deliveries with 17 fours and one six. It was his fifth century in ODI. He eventually got out scoring 111 runs off a Soumya Sarkar delivery.

After 33 overs, Sri Lanka were 208 for 3. Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews were batting on 42 and 1 respectively.

Earlier, Shafiul Islam, who came back to the national team after three years, took the first wicket of Sri Lanka by removing Avishka Fernando for seven, reports UNB.

Avishka went to cut a ball outside the off-stump but managed an edge to the slip cordon where Soumya Sarkar took the catch.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first.

It will be Lasith Malinga’s last ODI. The Sri Lankan pacer announced that he will be unavailable for ODIs after this match.

Bangladesh playing XI: Tamim Iqbal(c), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Sri Lanka playing XI: Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Perera(w), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga