Thanks largely to Mendis’ monumental innings supported by half-centuries from Niroshan Dickwella and Dilruwan Perera, Sri Lanka reached a total of 494, although they would have been far happier if they had crossed the 500-run mark.

Niroshan Dickwella pulls a delivery to the leg boundary during his innings of 75.

Ironically it was the two half-centurions who were responsible for giving the Bangladesh openers early lives that enabled them to finish the day at 133 for two wickets – still 361 runs behind.

Perera put down a simple catch at gully offered by Soumya Sarkar at four and Dickwella missed Tamim Iqbal behind the wicket at 28. Those two lapses enabled the openers to put up a century partnership before Tamim threw away his wicket attempting an impossible single and getting run out for 57.

Sri Lanka soon followed with the wicket of Mominul Haque for seven when Perera compensated for his early lapse with a wicket by trapping him plumb in front.

Sarkar however lived to fight another day finishing on 66 not out with his skipper Mushfiqur Rahim on one.

The pitch had slowed down from what it was on the first day and the key to today will be the left-arm chinaman deliveries of Lakshan Sandakan who really made the Bangladesh batsmen jump around in the final session’s play.

Mendis’s extravagance cost him a maiden Test double century when he attempted to reach it with a six and eventually holed out to long-on. The catch was held on the boundary line by Tamim Iqbal giving Mehedi Hasan his second wicket of the innings.

The 19-year-old off-spinning sensation who bowled Bangladesh to their maiden Test win over England at Dhaka last October finished as the best Bangladesh bowler with four wickets for 113.

Dickwella batted aggressively for his second Test fifty scoring 75 off 76 balls with six fours and a six and Perera followed with his third Test half century (51) off 77 balls with seven fours and a six.

Dickwella helped Mendis add 110 for the fifth wicket before the latter’s dismissal for 194 scored off 225 balls with 19 fours and four sixes.

Mendis is the sixth Sri Lankan batsman to be dismissed in the 190s after Sidath Wettimuny, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Mathews also bagged two other awards in a glittering ceremony graced by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram who was the chief guest – the All-rounder of the Year for both Test and One-Day Internationals.

The awards which featured the performances of Sri Lanka’s cricketers for 2015 saw Dilshan and fast bowler Lasith Malinga bag two awards apiece.

Dilshan also won the T20 Batsman of the Year while Malinga picked up the Bowler of the Year award for both categories ODI and T20.

Wasim who played in 19 Tests and 59 ODIs against Sri Lanka between 1985 and 2002 recalled many memories of the matches between the two countries since his first visit to the country with Imran Khan’s Pakistan side in 1985.

“We had many major battles on and off the field, but lots of them off the field. Sri Lanka is a memorable place for me. It’s a ‘Heaven on Earth’ and we call it the Pearl Island,” said Wasim.

“What I like about the country is the positive energy that generates from the people. Everyone in Sri Lanka is happy and with a smile on their face. When I walk on the road I feel safe and it’s like my second home. People smile and say hello and some want to take selfies,” he said.

Wasim said his love for the country has made him an unofficial ambassador of Sri Lanka and wherever he went he always told people that Sri Lanka was one country they should not miss visiting.

Speaking of the country’s cricket Wasim said, “Sri Lanka played cricket in the real spirit. They are quite calm but deadly.”

Wasim praised the school system in Sri Lanka and said that it was “an unmatchable school cricket structure” that has helped the country produce so many great cricketers like Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muthiah Muralitharan.

Wasim thanked Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala for inviting him to the awards presentation and said, “I am always available for Sri Lanka Cricket in any capacity. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are brotherly countries and one should help each other.”

First, Kusal was struck flush on his toe by a yorker, which demanded medical attention. Kusal, in visible discomfort immediately after coping the blow, decided the best way out was to counterattack. Seeing Kusal walk across, Gabriel speared a superb yorker at serious pace on leg stump. Kusal overbalanced in his attempt to flick and was late on the shot. By the time his bat came down, the ball had crashed into the middle and leg stumps.

Dickwella brings out the ‘Dilscoop’

It was in Zimbabwe, over 17 years ago, that Tillakaratne Dilshan broke through in international cricket. On Wednesday, Dilshan, perhaps watching his mates from the comfort of his couch, may have grinned ear to ear when he saw Niroshan Dickwella play a shot named after him. Seeing the batsman swing freely to full deliveries, Carlos Brathwaite shortened his length and bowled a slow offcutter. Dickwella was already down on one knee, trying to use the pace and paddle it fine. But with the ball not coming on at the pace he would have liked, a delicate little deflection was turned into a full-blooded scoop with the bat moving upwards in a lovely little arc in a fraction of a second or two. He found the middle too, clearing short fine leg to get a boundary.

Cheeky attempt thwarts Kusal

Kusal Mendis’ dismissal was somewhat like that of a man who walked blindfolded on a highway, only to be run over by a cycle. Adventurous in his outlook at the crease, he first fetched a slog-sweep off Ashley Nurse from outside off to hit it into bleachers at cow corner. Then he got down on one knee and swung a full delivery for six over long-on. He was suddenly six short of a maiden ODI ton. Seeing the batsman line him up for a third hit, Nurse shortened his length and fired it wide. Kusal re-adjusted and tried to run the ball past the keeper, but could only manage a faint nick. And with that the wait for a maiden ODI hundred continued.

Lakmal’s three-card trick

One didn’t know whether it was a deliberate plan from Suranga Lakmal to test Johnson Charles with three different deliveries in the eighth over of the chase, but it worked. First up, a full ball was drilled down the ground for four. Then he dug one short, seemingly in an attempt to target his ribcage. The ball didn’t bounce as high as he would have liked. Charles shuffled across and helped it along to fine leg. Then, he unleashed a slow offcutter, which foxed Charles. The batsman was through with the swing even before the ball arrived, and toe-ended a catch to Upul Tharanga at mid-off.

Of mix-ups and missed opportunities

Evin Lewis had just got past a hundred and was cramping. The frustration of a few swings and misses resulted in him attempting cheeky runs. He survived a run-out chance on 114 when Dickwella dislodged the bails before he could collect the ball cleanly from the cover fielder. He continued to swing his way to make 148 before being stranded mid-pitch courtesy a mix-up with his captain Jason Holder, with West Indies slipping to 262 for 6, needing 69 off 57 balls. Sri Lanka’s fielding nightmares extended into the end-overs when Upul Tharanga put down a skier at mid-on to reprieve Carlos Brathwaite on 3.

Both the missed opportunities may have cost Sri Lanka on another day, but on the face of pressure, West Indies wilted again, much like they did in the previous game, against Zimbabwe, that resulted in a tie.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said in a statement that Dilshan, who is one of only 11 players to have scored a century in each format of the game, was the epitome of the modern-day cricketer with his ability to adapt.

“Dilshan’s accomplishments across all three formats are fantastic. He started as a solid batsman but adjusted to the demands of the faster-paced game and came to be known as one of the best in ODI and T20 Internationals.

“He will be remembered for his innovative strokes and as a destructive opener. He was also a useful spin bowler and an outstanding fielder. We congratulate Dilshan for a fine career and wish him every success in the future,” Richardson said.

Dilshan, who retired from Test cricket in 2013, topped the ICC World Twenty20 rankings for T20 Batsmen in June 2009 and the ODI all-rounders’ list in 2015. He was selected in the ICC’s ODI team of the year four times – in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, and won the 2009 Twenty20 International Performance of the Year for his 96 off 57 balls against the West Indies in the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2009.

Dilshan was a member of the Sri Lanka side which shared the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 title with India, and won the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh. He also featured in the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cups in 2007 and 2011.

He scored 5,492 runs in 87 Test matches with 16 centuries and plundered 10,290 runs in 330 ODIs with 22 centuries. In T20Is, he got 1889 runs in 80 matches including one century, which makes him one of only 11 batsmen to have scored centuries in all three formats in international cricket.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first and managed only 128-9 in 20 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva scored 62 for his maiden Twenty20 international half-century

Legspinner Adam Zampa and fast bowler James Faulkner took three wickets each for Australia.

Maxwell and captain David Warner started the Australian chase aggressively and shared 93 runs in 51 balls But from there the tourists lost six wickets for 27 runs but went over the line with 13 deliveries to spare thanks to the good opening stand. Retiring Tillakaratne Dilshan had best figures 2-8 for Sri Lanka.

Maxwell continued his superior form the first match and reached his half-century in 18 balls, the fastest by an Australian. He made an unbeaten 145 in the first match to take Australia to a 85-run win.

He was bowled by legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna off the inside edge.

Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana brought Sri Lanka strongly back into the game taking two wickets in the tenth over after Australia had experimented with the batting order by promoting lower order batsmen.

Moises Henriques was sent in at No. 3 but he was out for one stumped off Pathirana. Two balls later Warner (25) was out caught by Thisara Perera off Pathirana.

Dilshan took a wicket off the last ball of his international cricket when he had Matthew Wade (14) caught by Dinesh Chandimal leaving Australia 120-6.

Travis Head hit a six off Pathirana to seal victory.

Australia finishes its tour to Sri Lanka on a winning note having won the one-day international series 4-1 and winning the Twenty20 series 2-0 after losing the test series 3-0.

Captain Warner said that said playing on Sri Lankan pitches was tough but commended his players for their determination and fight to overcome the challenge.

Warner however was disappointed that his team lost wickets consistently after a good start.

“We probably saw there the lack of consistency when we lost a wicket after a good start,” Warner said.

“Something we want to keep improving on. It’s disappointing we lost five or six for 20 in eight overs in the middle after being none for 90. But obviously it is fantastic to get a win and win the series.”

Dilshan said that he is disappointed to leave the game with a loss.

“We tried our best to win the match but we were about 20 runs short; and also while bowling we gave away too many runs in the first six overs,” Dilshan said.

“It’s time to relax now. It was pressure playing for the country. Now I feel lighter.”

The International Cricket Council paid tribute to Dilshan calling him an “epitome of the modern-day cricketer with his ability to adapt.”

Dilshan is among the 11 players to have scored a century in all formats of cricket.

“Dilshan’s accomplishments across all three formats are fantastic. He started as a solid batsman but adjusted to the demands of the faster-paced game and came to be known as one of the best in ODI and T20 Internationals,” the ICC statement quoted its chief executive David Richardson as saying.

“He will be remembered for his innovative strokes and as a destructive opener. He was also a useful spin bowler and an outstanding fielder. We congratulate Dilshan for a fine career and wish him every success in the future.” Richardson said.

Dilshan leaves international cricket with 17,671 runs in 497 games across all formats. He also had 151 international wickets.

“A lot of youngsters try to play T20s and one-dayers, but I’m giving advice to them that they should make sure they enjoy Test cricket first, then they can enjoy one-dayers and T20s,” said 39-year-old Dilshan after playing his 330th and final ODI at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday against Australia before retiring.

“Everyone has to play more Test cricket. That is the duty of the game. I really enjoyed my Test career as well, rather than the one-dayers. This is a time for our youngsters to put their hands up and take over Sri Lankan cricket. That’s the reason for my retirement. The youngsters are doing really well. Hopefully they can take our national flag a long way,” he said.

Dilshan appeared for his country in 87 Tests scoring 5492 runs at an average of 40.98 with 16 hundreds and captained in 11 of them. It was during his short tenure as captain that Dilshan made his highest Test score – a magnificent 193 against England at Lord’s in 2011 and Sri Lanka recorded their maiden Test win in South Africa by 208 runs at Durban in 2012.

About the timing of his retirement Dilshan said, “I just thought it was time, just as I had thought with my Test career. After this series there is no cricket for me for six months. It’s in January that we play next in South Africa. I thought that it’s better for a new player to train with the team in those six months than me.

“They can get good experience with the team during that time. I thought it was enough so I talked with my wife and my parents. If young players can win in the future that would give me the most joy. You can’t buy that feeling.

“There was no influence.

I had been expecting to play on, but I talked with a lot of people around me and changed my mind. I talked to Thilanga Sumathipala (SLC president) as well, who is someone you can get a lot of good advice from. He’s been like a father, when I faced some problems. I’ve got that support from all these people.”

Reflecting back on his career Dilshan said, “I am happy about what I’ve done for my country in my career. I won’t forget my 17 years serving Sri Lanka. I gave everything in all my matches. If I couldn’t bat, I bowled, and if I couldn’t bowl well, I fielded well.

I can be happy about my journey. Today also I tried my best to win this game, but unfortunately we were short by about 10 or 15 runs. I’m also disappointed that after getting a 40 – and getting starts in the last two games – I couldn’t get a big one. But I’m glad to be giving the youngsters a chance.”

Dilshan said that he hadn’t planned to retire before the series but when he woke up that day he felt that it was time for him to go.

“Whether someone tells me to keep playing or stop playing, that’s not what’s important. What is important is what I feel.

I started the series thinking that I’ll play for another year – at least in T20 cricket. But when I woke up that day I felt that it was time to go,” said Dilshan.

“To be honest I could easily play for another year or two. But we have to look to the future. If I play for another two years and leave, there’s only 18 months before the next World Cup and that’s unfair to the team. A young player could be blooded in that time.

“Since I started opening six years ago, we haven’t found a permanent partner for me. I’ve opened with about 10 people – so that’s a problematic area for us.

If I keep playing we won’t be able to get two batsmen settled in that place. At the same time I’ll also get some rest,” he said.

Australia edged out Sri Lanka by two wickets to spoil Tillakaratne Dilshan’s one-day farewell and go 2-1 up in the five-match series on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were all out for 226 with four balls remaining, a total built around Dinesh Chandimal’s gutsy 102 in an otherwise poor batting display by the hosts in the third match of the series. Dilshan’s fluent 42 in his one-day swansong was the second highest score and the former Sri Lanka captain quit the format with 10,290 runs, including 22 centuries from 330 matches. He will play the two Twenty20 matches against Australia next month before retiring from international cricket.
Australia wobbled early in their reply but George Bailey (70) featured in two fifty-plus partnerships as the tourists chased down the target with four overs to spare. Earlier, Dilshan was given a guard of honour by his team mates when the 39-year-old went out to bat but the team looked in trouble after being reduced to 23 for two in the fourth over.

Dilshan joined forces with Chandimal to steady the ship with a 73-run partnership before he fell to an Adam Zampa full toss. Australian fielders shook hands with Dilshan, who received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Warner and other Aussie players congratulating Dilshan for a very successful cricketing career (AFP)

Zampa dismissed Angelo Mathews in his next over but Chandimal maintained his red hot 50-overs form and brought up his fourth one-day century before being the last man out, holing out to Zampa off James Faulkner. Chandimal’s last seven one-day scores are 52, 62, 63, 53, 80 not out, 48 and 102. Leading the side in absence of regular skipper Steve Smith, who has returned home to rest, David Warner marshalled his bowlers well to restrict the hosts to a modest total.

Mathews dented Australia’s top order, however, cheaply dismissing Warner and Shaun Marsh as the touring side slumped to 44 for three in the ninth over. Bailey added 62 runs with Travis Head (36) to put Australia’s chase back on track and put on 81 runs with Matthew Wade (42) to take the side close to victory.

Zampa, who had claimed 3-38 with the ball, scored the winning run but Bailey bagged the man-of-the-match award. The teams stay put in Dambulla for the fourth one-dayer on Wednesday.

Allrounder Milinda Siriwardana, who was in the squad for the first two games, was omitted in the only other change in the 16-man squad announced on Friday.

Kumara was part of Sri Lanka’s successful under-19 tour to England, where the youth test and ODI series were won recently. His teammate, batsman Avishka Fernando, was already in the senior squad as Sri Lanka looks to build a team for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Kumara, who has no first-class experience, took 19 wickets in both formats during the England tour.

Opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan will retire from ODI cricket after the third match in Dambulla, to give way for the team building. Dilshan has played 329 ODIs since his debut in 1999, and still ranks among the team’s best scorers.
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Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (captain), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhanajaya De Silva, Angelo Perera, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan, Amila Aponso, Lahiru Kumara.

“I have taken this decision after consultation with my family members. I think this is the right time for me to retire and I have no other ambitions of prolonging my career any further,”

Dilshan will make his final One-Day International appearance for his country in the third ODI against Australia at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday August 28 and his final T20 International appearance also against Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium on September 9.

“I want to catch up on the lost time with my wife and three kids and want to give them the best of fatherhood which they may have missed by my being away from home with the Sri Lanka team,” Dilshan said.

The 39-year-old right-handed opener retired from Test cricket in March 2013 and concentrated on playing One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. He said at the time that he would call it quits when he no longer enjoys the game.

It seems the time has arrived for him to take a final decision on his career. Dilshan’s current form would also have been a factor towards his final decision. He scored 22 and 10 in the first two ODIs played at the R Premadasa Stadium coming out of a knee injury which he sustained during practice. He also missed Sri Lanka’s last ODI and T20I series in England citing “personal reasons”.

Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said that he and his committee were unaware of Dilshan’s decision to retire as they had already picked him to play in the third and fourth ODIs in Dambulla.

“We picked the side during the second ODI and we learnt of Dilshan’s decision only yesterday,” said Jayasuriya.

He denied that there was any pressure brought on Dilshan to retire. “The decision he took was purely his own, we were keen to play him.”

Paying a tribute to a former team mate Jayasuriya said, “Dilshan was truly a great all-rounder for Sri Lanka. He could bat, bowl, field and even keep wickets very rarely do you find a cricketer who is so versatile in every department. What is so great about him is his commitment to perform well even at this late age. Sri Lanka cricket will certainly miss him.”

Will Dilshan be lost to cricket forever?

“I have no plans to play any further cricket or be involved with cricket. It’s a decision that I have taken,” said Dilshan.

“Although I am not considering taking up any positions connected to cricket or play cricket of any format my name I am sure will remain in the game as the inventor of the ‘Dilscoop’,” he said.

The ‘Dilscoop’ became famous during the ICC World T20 in England in 2009 when Dilshan used it frequently to become the leading run-getter in the tournament with 317 runs (avg. 52.83) and a top score of 96 not out – a performance that took his team to the final against Pakistan at Lord’s and gave him the Man of the Series award.

According to Dilshan he started practicing this stroke against a bowling machine during his tenure with Delhi Daredevils in the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) held in South Africa. It was used so successfully by Dilshan during the World T20 that former Australian captain Ian Chappell who commentating during the tournament aid that he had never seen any batsman play the ball straight over the wicket-keeper’s head as Dilshan does.

Dilshan appeared for Sri Lanka in 97 Tests 11 of which he captained and in 329 ODIs (26 as captain). He also captained in five of 78 T20 Internationals he has played to-date.

Making his ODI debut in December 1999 in Zimbabwe, Dilshan turned out to be one of the most successful cricketers in the shorter format scoring over 10,000 runs and capturing over 100 wickets. He is also one of the few batsmen to score over 1000 runs in T20Is and also a century. He made 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year on four occasions, the last one being in 2015 when he amassed 1207 at an average of 52.47.

Despite his age Dilshan remains one of the best fielders in world cricket especially at his pet position at cover point where he has brought off numerous catches and saved several runs for his team. His best performance on the field was during the VB final against Australia at Adelaide in 2006 when he ran out four batsmen with some slick fielding that enabled Sri Lanka defend a target of 275 and win by 22 runs.

Sri Lanka Cricket in a media release stated that they would dedicate the third ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia to be played at Dambulla Stadium on Sunday to honour Dilshan for his invaluable contribution to the game and country.

“I together with my committee wish to extend our sincere appreciation and wish him the very best in his future endeavors,” said Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala.

Matthew Wade top-scored for the touring side with a fighting 76 but Sri Lanka’s biggest win over Australia in terms of runs means the teams move to Dambulla for Sunday’s third one-dayer with the five-match series level at 1-1. Australia needed a strong start to chase down such a big total but Thisara Perera (3-33) dismissed openers David Warner and Aaron Finch to reduce the tourists to 16 for two.

Skipper Steve Smith (30) rekindled Australia’s hopes of a fightback and Wade showed tremendous grit down the order but it was not enough to complete what would have been a record chase at the ground. Left-arm spinner Amila Aponso was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowler, claiming 4-18 in his second one-day international.

Sri Lanka posted 288 before being all out in the 49th over, losing their last five wickets for 27 runs. After opting to bat, Sri Lanka lost openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Tillakaratne Dilshan off successive deliveries inside the first 19 balls. Kusal Mendis (69) and Dinesh Chandimal (48) revived the hosts with a 125-run stand.

Mendis cruised to his second successive fifty but Adam Zampa (3-42) dismissed both batsmen. Kusal Perera (54) added 103 runs with skipper Mathews (57) to consolidate Sri Lanka’s position but Faulkner and Mitchell Starc (3-53) ripped out the lower order.

Faulkner trapped Perera lbw with the final delivery of his eighth over. The all-rounder dismissed Mathews with the first ball of his next over, caught at long-off, and bowled Thisara Perera with his next to become the sixth Australian cricketer to claim a one-day hat-trick.