HP lose one-day series

The Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team lost the three-match one-day series against their Sri Lankan counterparts 2-1 as opener Saif Hassan's brilliant century could not avert a seven-wicket thrashing at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday.

Bangladesh bounced back in the second match with a two-wicket win after suffering a humiliating 186-run defeat in the first match of the series.

Bangladesh were asked to bat first in yesterday's rain interrupted game with Saif scoring a magnificent 130-ball 117, featuring four boundaries and seven maximums. Saif also strung together a pivotal 125-run fourth-wicket stand with Afif Hossain before being dismissed in the 45th over. Afif remained unbeaten with a 70-ball 68 which ensured that Bangladesh posted a commendable 269 for five.

Before Sri Lanka began their chase, rain during the break reduced the game to 28 overs with the revised target for the visitors being 199. Sri Lanka romped to the target in 24 overs with seven wickets to spare. Opener Padhun Nissanka's unbeaten 78-ball 115 and a 32-ball 55 from Minod Bhanuka helped Sri Lanka get a comfortable victory.

The two sides will begin their first four-dayer in Khulna on August 27 before traveling to Cox's Bazar for their final four-dayer, scheduled to begin on September 3.