Sri Lanka’s triumph in the decider match against Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series was marked by outstanding performances from Nuwan Thushara and Kusal Mendis. Thushara’s historic maiden hat-trick, alongside Mendis’ stellar knock of 86 runs, propelled Sri Lanka to a 28-run victory at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Thushara’s impressive figures of 5-20 played a pivotal role as Bangladesh was bowled out for 146 in the final over. Amidst the celebration of their series win, Sri Lankan players revived the ‘timed out’ controversy, which stemmed from Angelo Mathews‘ dismissal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Mathews’ dismissal in that match, due to a delay in reaching the pitch after encountering helmet issues, reignited debates surrounding the timed-out rule.
According to this rule, a batter must arrive at the pitch within a specified time frame following the dismissal of the previous player, ready to face the next delivery. Shakib Al Hasan’s appeal led to Mathews’ dismissal without facing a single ball, sparking widespread controversy and differing opinions among cricketing experts and players. During the match, Thushara’s bowling prowess was evident as he dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup with his fiery deliveries.
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His crucial wickets in the fourth and sixth overs, including a remarkable yorker to dismiss Soumya Sarkar, set the tone for Sri Lanka’s victory. Despite Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed’s valiant efforts, Bangladesh fell short of the target due to the early setbacks caused by Thushara’s early strikes. On the batting front, Mendis played a stellar innings, anchoring Sri Lanka’s total of 174/7.
His aggressive approach, coupled with well-timed boundaries and maximums, propelled Sri Lanka’s innings forward after the early loss of Dhananjaya de Silva. Wanindu Hasaranga provided crucial support, particularly during the 10th over onslaught against Mustafizur Rahman. Mendis’ half-century and impactful contributions from other batsmen, including Dasun Shanaka’s late flourish, ensured a challenging target for Bangladesh.
Taskin Ahmed’s breakthrough by dismissing Mendis halted Sri Lanka’s momentum briefly, but Shanaka’s late blitz ensured a competitive total. Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s collective effort, highlighted by Thushara’s bowling heroics and Mendis’ batting brilliance, secured their series victory, marking a memorable outing against Bangladesh.
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