GUWAHATI: Although they lost their first warm-up match to Bangladesh by seven wickets, wicketkeeper-opener Kusal Perera's injury will keep Sri Lanka more worried ahead of their opening match of the World Cup against South Africa on October 7.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka scored 263 in 49.1 overs before Bangladesh coasted home losing just three wickets with eight overs to spare here at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Friday. The Islanders suffered a major injury setback when their hard-hitting opener Perera retired hurt after scoring a 24-ball 34.
The left-hander looked in good touch hitting six boundaries before experiencing pain in his right shoulder which was operated on about a year ago. He called on the physio a couple of times before going out of the park not risking any further damage before the main matches. Already missing a number of key players to injury, Sri Lanka can ill afford to leave Perera out of the squad so late.
Their star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while pacer Dushmantha Chameera failed to heal his shoulder injury in time for inclusion into the 15-man squad.
Sri Lanka had a decent start to the game and could have reached a bigger score if Perera continued with the bat. Apart from other opener Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya Da Silva, no other batter could manage to get it going as their innings folded before the full quota. Off spinner Mahedi Hasan was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with 3/36 in nine overs.
In reply, the Bengal Tigers had a blazing start, thanks to Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das notching 131 runs for the opening wicket. Next man Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who captained the side, scored 64-ball 67 to finish off the game without much delay.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 263 in 49.1 overs (P Nissanka 68, D de Silva 55; M Hasan 3/36). Bangladesh 264/3 in 42 overs (T Hasan 84, L Das 61, MH Miraz 67; Lahiru 1/30). Bangladesh won by 7 wickets
