Close Sri Lanka 258 for 6 (Arnold 62, Dilshan 50) beat Bangladesh 200 all out (Bashar 52) by 58 runs
scorecard

Bangladesh slumped to their 50th defeat in 53 one-day internationals when Sri Lanka beat them by 58 runs in the last of the three-match series. Set a target of 259 for victory, Bangladesh were bowled out for 200 in the 48th over, handing Sri Lanka a 3-0 series victory.

Bangladesh had put up a spirited performance in the field, but were again let down by their batsmen. Habibul Bashar kept it going with a defiant 52, but the top order failed yet again. Muttiah Muralitharan was among the wickets, taking 3 for 24, but the Man-of-the-Match award went to Russel Arnold, who held Sri Lanka's innings together with a solid 62 from 64 balls, and then chipped in with a wicket and a run out.

Bangladesh's batsmen started off in the quest for 259 runs as if determined to avenge the humiliation of being bowled out for 76 in the previous match – their lowest score in ODIs. They raced to 45 off just seven overs. Al Sahariar provided the early impetus, smashing three consecutive fours off Chamila Gamage in his 13-ball 20. Gamage struck back in his next over, having Sahariar caught by wicketkeeper Tillekeratne Dilshan (27 for 1).

Bangladesh were racing along when Pulasthi Gunaratne struck a double blow, trapping Hannan Sarkar in front for 14 and yorking Tushar Imran off successive balls as Bangladesh slumped to 48 for 4. Captain Khaled Mashud and Bashar rebuilt the innings with a 65-run partnership which gave Bangladesh a sniff. Arnold soon ended it with a smart piece of fielding at silly point to run out Mashud for 37 (113 for 5), and from there, Bangladesh were never in the hunt.

Earlier, a 100-run fifth-wicket partnership between Arnold and Dilshan helped Sri Lanka wriggle out of a tight corner and post 258 for 6. Bangladesh captain Mashud won the toss, and in a departure from the last two matches, chose to field. Sri Lanka's top four batsmen all got starts, but failed to capitalise. Marvan Atapattu – leading the side in the absence of Sanath Jayasuriya – put on 39 for the first wicket with Aravinda de Silva before flicking uppishly to Kaled Mahmud off Tapash Baishya for 20.

Kumar Sangakkara made a fluent 22 before he was bowled by Manjural Islam (82 for 2). Aravinda and Mahela Jayawardene were then dismissed within a run of each other, and Sri Lanka were wobbling at 115 for 4 in the 27th over, before Arnold and Dilshan steadied the innings.

Both batsmen struggled to find the boundaries, but hustled the fielders with some superb running between the wickets. Arnold's 64-ball 62 included just four fours, while Dilshan hit five fours in his 63-ball 50. Hasantha Fernando provided further impetus in the final overs, knocking off 23 from just 21 balls as 101 runs came off the last 15 overs.

Medium-pacer Mahmud was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, finishing with 3 for 51, while left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique conceded just 32 runs in 10 overs. The bowlers had done a fair job, but in the end the lack of batting strength let Bangladesh down again.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd