On this day, January 27, 2018: Shehan Madushanka took a hat-trick against Bangladesh in the Final of the Tri Nation series. He became the fourth bowler in history to claim a hat-trick on debut as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 79 runs to win the tri-nation one-day international tournament in Dhaka. Shehan Madhushanka picked up Bangladesh’s last three wickets before finishing with 3-26 as Sri Lanka defended their score of 221 runs by bowling out Bangladesh for 142. Madushanka took the wickets of Rubel Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza in the last two balls of his sixth over before he removed Mahmudullah in the next over to complete his hat-trick. It was a memorable game for him. This trophy was Sri Lanka’s first in ODI cricket since November 2016, when they had won a tri-nation series in Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka were batting first and scored 221 runs on the board. Upul Tharanga opening the batting scored 56 and was also the player of the match. Niroshan Dickwella scored 42 and Dinesh Chandimal scored 45 as Sri Lanka reached 158/3. But a flurry of wickets meant they were reduced to 209/7 with Chandimal getting dismissed. They lost their tenth wicket in the final ball of the innings as Sri Lanka reached 221 which was a par score on that wicket.
Rubel Hossain was the best bowler for Bangladesh picking up four wickets while Mustafizur scalped two wickets. Defending a target of 222, Sri Lankan bowlers constricted the Bangladesh chase and dismissed the opposition for 142, and propelled Sri Lanka to the tri-series title.
Dushmantha Chameera had Tamim Iqbal top-edge a pull to midwicket before Sabbir Rahman fell in similar fashion a few overs later. Chameera bowled six overs in his new-ball spell, and conceded only 13. It was an outstanding spell as Bangladesh were reduced to 22/3 in 9.2 overs. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim made a recovery from that situation but the partnership was broken as Bangladesh found themselves at 80/4.
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Soon Mehidy Hasan also departed and Bangladesh slipped to 90 for 5 in the 29th over and no batsman but Mahmudullah looked comfortable on this surface. Mahmudullah was the lone warrior scoring a valiant 76 while wickets fell around him. Then Madushanka came in and took the hat-trick as Bangladesh were bowled out for 142 and it was a memorable debut for him.
