DHAKA, March 18, 2024 (BSS)-Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto heaped praise on the fast bowlers, saying that their disciplined bowling throughout the series set the tone for their second straight ODI series victory against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh won the first match by six wickets but Sri Lanka leveled with a three-wicket victory, leaving the third match a deciding one.

However fast bowlers, led by Taskin Ahmed who claimed 3-42, put a stellar show to bowl Sri Lanka out for just 235. Bangladesh then hunted down the target with 9.4 overs to spare, thanks to Tanzid Hasan Tamim's fluent 84 and a brutal 18 ball-48 not out of Rishad Hossain.

Tanzid came as concussion substitute after opener Soumya Sarkar's head hit on the ground while saving a boundary while Rishad replaced Taijul Islam for the third game. 

"The way Tanzid started his innings, really happy for him but he should have finished the innings. The way Mushfiqur batted helped Rishad's innings," Shanto said after the match.

Shanto however was adjudged man of the series on his first ODI series as regular captain after scoring 163 runs with a century in three matches. 

"I think on a wicket like this the bowlers showed a lot of character, especially with the new ball our three fast bowlers bowled really well. In the middle overs Miraz and Rishad bowled really well. I am very happy with the bowlers," he added.

According to Shanto, the victory in ODI series will help them motivate to do well in the upcoming two-match Test series against same opponents. 

"This win was very important for us, now Test Championship is coming up and we have already won one match against New Zealand before, so this series is definitely important for us," he added.
 
Rishad Hossain who was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 18 ball-48 not out and 1-51 said: "I was very happy to finish and win the match. At first I was a bit nervous then later on I started to connect the ball really well with the bat. Mushfiq told me to hit the ball hard if it is in my zone."

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis however felt they were 40/50 shorts, which proved to be decisive at the end

"I think we were 40-50 runs short. The bowling unit bowled pretty well and the fielders had a very good game," Mendis said. 

"Janith (Liyanage) batted really well after we lost couple of wickets in the middle order. I'm very happy with his performance and the bowlers had a very good game. Lahiru Kumara bowled really well in the first ten overs then in the end also, he is coming in form."