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16-Jan-2009 17:36:00 GMT
Tri-series in Bangladesh, 2009

Murali Heroics Helps SL Beat Bangladesh Win Tri-series

Mirpur: Kumar Sangakkara cracked a solid 59 and Muttiah Muralitharan hammered 33 off 16 balls as Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling two-wicket win over Bangladesh in the tri-series final on Friday.

Sri Lanka made a horror start when they lost five wickets for six runs - the lowest score at the fall of the fifth wicket in the history of the One-day game - before surpassing Bangladesh's total of 152 with 11 balls to spare.

Man-of-the-match Sangakkara kept his cool under pressure to mastermind his team's win with his 44th half-century. He also added 63 runs for the seventh wicket with Farveez Maharoof, who remained unbeaten with 38.

Bangladesh had an opportunity to clinch their maiden tri-series involving a Test-playing nation when left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan removed Sangakkara and Nuwan Kulasekara in three balls to reduce Sri Lanka to 114/8.

But Muralitharan shattered the hosts' dream with his amazing power hitting as he plundered 20 runs in an over from teenage paceman Rubel Hossain, including three fours and a six.

Fast bowler Nazmul Hossain (3-30) was instrumental in putting Sri Lanka under pressure, grabbing three of the first five wickets in an incisive opening spell. The tourists' batting woes began with the first ball of the innings when veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya was run out following a mix-up with Upul Tharanga.

The 21-year-old Hossain then rattled Sri Lanka with two wickets in three balls, having Tharanga and skipper Mahela Jayawardene caught by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Sri Lanka's batting continued to wobble as Mashrafe Mortaza had Chamara Kapugedera caught by Junaid Siddique in the slips and Hossain bowled Thilan Thushara, but Sangakkara and Muralitharan came to their team's rescue.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first on a greenish wicket. Kulasekara made full use of the morning moisture to rip the heart out of Bangladesh's top order, removing the first three batsmen.

The medium pacer struck in his second over when Zunaed Siddique edged him behind the stumps for one, before a thick inside edge cannoned off Mushfiqur Rahim's middle stumps (4).

Farveez Maharoof had Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful, caught by Kumar Sangakkara for 13 before Kulasekara sent back Tamim Iqbal, also caught by Sangakkara for 18.


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