|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team got yet another setback as they lost the three-match series by 2-1 to Sri Lanka HP team after the tourists consigned them to a seven-wicket defeat by D/L method in the third and final game at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna.

Despite a valiant century of opener Saif Hasan, Bangladesh HP suffered the defeat amid a ongoing uproar of the country’s cricket’s future.

Saif’s 130 ball-117, studded by four fours and seven sixes helped Bangladesh to amass a respectable 269-5 but a spell of shower made it a curtailed over game, setting a 199-run target for Sri Lanka.

The visitors however reached the target in 24 overs, losing just three wickets to win the game. The tourists earlier won the first game by 186 runs before Bangladesh leveled the series with hard-fought two-wicket win.

The two teams now will play a two-match four-day series.

Apart from Saif, Afif Hossain was the other notable scorer for Bangladesh with 68 while Nazmul Hossain Shanto made 39. Kalana Perera took 2-47 for Sri Lanka.

Opener Padhun Nissanka’s whirlwind 78 ball-115 not out set the tune for Sri Lanka. Nissanka struck eight fours and five sixes in his innings. He kept the side on the course despite Sri Lanka suffered an early setback losing two wickets.