Golden duck and Malinga hat-trick – but Mortaza ends on a win

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza

Mashrafe Mortaza ended his Twenty20 international career on a high despite falling victim to a golden duck as part of Lasith Malinga's hat-trick in a resounding 46-run victory for Bangladesh, earning another series draw against Sri Lanka.

The Tigers held Sri Lanka 1-1 in the Test and one-day international series' and frustrated them again in what was captain Mortaza's final T20 for his country in Colombo on Thursday.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan top scored with 38 from 31 balls and also took 3-24 for a vibrant visiting side, who posted 176-9 and bowled their opponents out for 131 in reply in the final game of their tour at R Premadasa Stadium.

The experienced Mortaza this week opted to quit the shortest format in order to allow the youngsters to come through, so it was apt that 21-year-old Mustafizur Rahman played a key role by taking 4-21.

Bangladesh win the match by 45 runs and level the T-20I Series 1-1.#SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/mZpM99FDVL

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) April 6, 2017

Chamara Kapugedera's 50 from just 35 deliveries was ultimately in vain for Sri Lanka, with Mortaza leading his side off following an emphatic victory in which he took a wicket after being dismissed first ball as Malinga claimed three victims in as many balls.

The tourists were without Tamim Iqbal due to a back injury, but Imrul Kayes (36) and Soumya Sarkar (34) put on 71 in just 6.3 overs to get them off to a blistering start.

Both openers set about Vikum Sanjaya in an expensive fourth over and Sarkar hit two sixes in his superb 17-ball knock before Asela Gunaratne got rid of him with a catch off his own bowling. 

Kayes was run out, but Shakib kept Bangladesh ticking along before Malinga snared Mushfiqur Rahim, Mortaza and T20 debutant Mehedi Hasan in a magnificent penultimate over to claim a hat-trick.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 40-5 in reply just over a quarter of a way through their run chase – Shakib got both openers – and although Kapugedera scored only his second T20 half-century, it came amid a losing effort.

Shakib and Mustafizur were rewarded for excellent variation, while Mortaza took the wicket of Seekkuge Prasanna as the Tigers claimed another deserved win.