Pavan Rathnayake guides Sri Lanka Emerging to series victory

Pavan Rathnayake

Sri Lanka Emerging won the three-match unofficial ODI series against Bangladesh Emerging 2-1 when they won the third and final match played at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium by five wickets on Sunday.

Bangladesh Emerging put into bat first were dismissed for 223 in 47 overs with seamer Chamindu Wickramasinghe and off-spinner Ashian Daniel being the chief wicket-takers with three apiece. With the exception of Shahadat Hossain who top scored with a robust 79 off 75 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) the rest of the batting could not make much headway.

Sri Lanka Emerging’s run chase was spearheaded Pavan Rathnayake who hit a sparkling 85 off 56 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes) and figured in two 81-run stands with Shevon Daniel (27) and Navod Paranavithana (47) to see his team home in the 32nd over.

The two teams will commence a two-match unofficial 4-day test series at the same venue from 25 October.

Scores: Bangladesh Emerging 223 (47) (Parvaz Hossain Emon 32, Pritom Kumar 35, Mahmudul Hasan Joy 37, Shahadat Hossain 79, Nipun Premaratne 2/39, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 3/35, Ashian Daniel 3/25, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2/41)

Sri Lanka Emerging 224-5 (31.2) (Shevon Daniel 27, Pavan Rathnayake 85, Navod Paranavithana 47, Ahan Wickramasinghe 30, Ripon Mondol 3/43, Rishad Hossain 2/41)