Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Tri-series final, Mirpur January 16,

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Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Tri-series final, Mirpur January 16, 2009

Murali cameo clinches humdingerScorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Muttiah Muralitharan's late cameo clinched the trophy for Sri Lanka after a pulsating low-scoring match in Mirpur. Bangladesh were in control of the game when Shakib Al Hasan's double-wicket maiden left Sri Lanka needing 39 off 36 balls with two wickets in hand. Murali, however, blasted a 16-ball 33, including 32 off two Rubel Hossain overs to break Bangladeshi hearts.

Two days after what Mohammad Ashraful called Bangladesh's "best victory", medium-pacer Nazmul Hossain's opening burst had set the home team on their way to an even bigger win, which would have been their first tri-nation title. He reduced Sri Lanka to 6 for 5, the lowest score for which a side has lost five wickets in a ODI, before Kumar Sangakkara's battling half-century tilted the game. Shakib's strikes then provided another twist but Murali's hitting cemented the victory.

Full report to follow

Bangladesh 152 (Raqibul 43*, Mendis 3-24, Kulasekara 3-19) v Sri Lanka




Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by medium-pacer Nuwan Kulasekara, turned in a much-improved performance from their previous game to put their side in control of the tri-series final in Mirpur. After Bangladesh's inspiring performance on Wednesday, their batting reverted to type, with an all-too-familiar top-order collapse. Some patient batting from Raqibul Hasan and Mahmudullah, who negotiated the spinners well, lifted Bangladesh but Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan polished off the tail to leave Sri Lanka a fairly straightforward target.

Fog had curtailed the final league game of the series to a 31-over-a-game affair, and has blighted much of Sri Lanka's tour, but it mercifully allowed an on-time start today. Sri Lanka chose to field on a pitch with a tinge of grass and their seamers made the most of the early assistance.

Kulasekara was the stand-out performer, getting the ball to move both ways. Junaid Siddique nicked an away-going delivery and Mushfiqur Rahim's horror series continued when an incutter proved too good for him.

The conditions were helpful but Sri Lanka's task was made easier by Bangladesh's batsmen. Tamim Iqbal survived when an attempted mow to midwicket flew towards the mid-off boundary, but he tried the shot again the next ball and only managed to edge it through to the keeper. The in-form Shakib Al Hasan also paid the price for a loose waft, an away-from-the-body off drive that gave Kumar Sangakkara his fourth catch of the innings.

Bangladesh were 54 for 5 in the 19th over, with their key batsmen all dismissed, and in danger of being bowled out well within their quota of overs. Raqibul and Mahmudullah, however, engineered a revival with a measured partnership. Both were keen to get on the front foot and smother the spin but there was little inclination to step on the accelerator. Their partnership raised 44 in nearly 14 overs and after Mahmudullah was bowled by Murali, Raqibul and Naeem Islam continued in the same vein.

At 149 for 6 and with three overs to go, Bangladesh were at least primed for a final onslaught with two set batsmen. However Mendis picked up three wickets as the last four went down for one run. An indication of Bangladesh's lack of intent was that there were only three fours in the final 25 overs.

Sri Lanka 153 for 8 (Sangakkara 59, Maharoof 38, Murali 33*, Nazmul 3-30) beat Bangladesh 152 (Raqibul 43*, Mendis 3-24, Kulasekara 3-19) by two wickets