IMAGES from Asia Cup Super 4 match played between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Colombo on Saturday.
Earlier, Samarawickrama, whose 93 came off just 72 balls, and Mendis, who made an even fifty, fought hard but Lanka found the going a bit tough and ended up with a total that was just about challenging.
After the early departure of Dimuth Karunaratne, who edged pacer Mahmud to Mushfiqur behind the stumps, Lanka found some sanity through Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis.
Mendis and Nissanka (40 off 60 balls) added 74 runs for the second wicket but the partnership was not always smooth.
Mendis, in particular, was scratchy in the middle and there were edges and false shots galore in his 60-ball knock.
Nissanka was relatively more fluent, but a clever slower delivery from Shoriful Islam ended his stay, as even the DRS could not save the batter from the leg-before verdict.
The home side lost three more wickets in the span of next 14 overs as they struggled for a lively middle-over phase.
Samarawickrama took charge of the situation at this juncture.
One of Sri Lanka's better ODI batters this year, Samarawickrama negated a rather slow pitch and Bangladesh bowlers during his fluent innings.
The right-hander was sure in his feet movement and judged the length very early, a pulled six off pacer Hasan Mahmud stood as a testimony to that.
Samarawickrama and Shanaka added 60 runs for the sixth wicket that carried them past the 200-run mark before the latter got out to Mahmud, who was impressive while taking three wickets.
Samarawickrama, who eventually got out in the last over of the innings, could have carried Sri Lanka to a better place with a bit more support but that was not forthcoming.
But the Lankan bowlers ensured that his knock did not go in vain.
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