SL A win series after home collapse

A lot of the interest around Bangladesh A's third four-dayer against their touring Sri Lankan counterparts surrounded the return from injury of national pacer Mustafizur Rahman, but due to the home batsmen's ineptitude Mustafizur could bowl only once in the match as Bangladesh A crashed to an innings and 38-run defeat on the third day in Sylhet yesterday.

The win gave Sri Lanka A the series win after the first two matches ended in draws.

Resuming the day on a promising 57 for one and 88 runs behind Sri Lanka A's first innings of 312, Bangladesh A lost their last nine wickets for just 49 runs to be bundled out for 107. Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara did most of the damage, taking six for 46 from 19.3 overs.

It was slim pickings for Bangladesh A, with overnight batsman and national team discard Soumya Sarkar top-scoring with 28.

Mustafizur returned to competitive cricket after a six-week injury layoff and took three for 44 in the Sri Lanka A's innings.

A three-match one-day series between the teams will start from July 17.

SCORES IN BRIEF

BANGLADESH A: First innings 167

SRI LANKA A: First innings 312

BANGLADESH A: Second innings 107 all out (Shadman 19, Soumya 28, Saif 17; G Jayasuriya 2-23, Pushpakumara 6-46, N Jayasuriya 2-22)

Result: Sri Lanka A won by an innings and 38 runs.