Playing their first international match after the World cup, Bangladesh went with three changes. All of them were forced. Mashrafe and Saifuddin couldn’t make this tour because of injuries, and Shakib Al Hasan is on vacation. Apart from that, the team was the same as it was in the big tournament. [caption id="attachment_126015" align="aligncenter" width="1186"] Malinga proved he is still the best ODI bowler in Sri Lanka.[/caption] Chasing a massive total of 316 Bangladesh batting followed a well-known pattern. Openers failed to give them a much-needed start as the stand-in captain Tamim Iqbal fell for a duck to Malinga’s toe-crusher. The latter is playing his last ODI match as announced. Tamim’s partner Soumya Sarkar made a good start playing some eye-soothing shots but again failed to convert it and got out at 15. To be fair to him, he also got out to a Malinga special that would trouble any batsman in the world. Mohammed Mithun, coming into the team as Shakib’s replacement, was judged LBW early in his innings as he missed a flick and was plumb in front. [caption id="attachment_126025" align="aligncenter" width="1090"] Bangladesh missed Shakib dearly[/caption] After the top-order collapse, Bangladesh middle order tried to fight back lead by Mushfiqur Rahim. He started slow but was supported by a free-flowing Sabbir Rahman. Sabbir got to his fifty in a short time then threw it away trying to hoick off-spinner Dhananjaya over the mid-wicket boundary. Mushfiqur Rahim was again involved in a run-out as he called Mosaddek for a run and sold him down the river. By the time Mushfiqur got out, it was already all over for Bangladesh. Tailenders waged a bit before Malinga, fittingly, took the last wicket and ended Bangladesh’s painful innings to complete Sri Lanka’s emphatic win. Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in a good looking wicket. Shafiul Islam, added to the squad at the last minute, stuck early in the third over and removed Sri Lankan opener, Avishka Fernando. Kushal Perera, coming at number three, took Bangladesh bowling apart and reached his 5th ODI hundred with a strike rate well over 100. Part-timer Soumya Sarkar removed him soon after but two crucial knocks from Kushal Mendis and experienced Angello Mathews meant Sri Lanka had adequate runs on the board to test Bangladesh Batting. Bangladesh team on the field was not far from what we have seen in the last couple of months. A change of captaincy could not bring any luck to the side. Lack of venom in pace attack at the start of the innings, misfields, mandatory catch drop, run-out chances gone begging, everything was there. Tamim’s captaincy at times left a lot to be desired. He went by what was pre-planned and did not seem to adjust with the match situation. Holding back Mustafiur till the 16th over when Sri Lanka going almost seven runs an over is an example. [caption id="attachment_126012" align="aligncenter" width="1246"] Tamim failed to impress with his captaincy.[/caption] Bangladesh’s performance at Premadasa is not much different from what we have seen in the last couple of months. Their losing way continues as they have lost three on the trot and won only three out of last ten matches since tri-nation series final in Dublin. Bangladeshi fans will dearly love that to change from the next game on Sunday but for that Bangladesh must redeem themselves in all three departments. Doing that without their best player will be a tall ask for sure. Saadat Ullah Kawser