Sri Lanka hammer Tigers in tri-nations final precursor

Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in the tri-nation series final after thrashing the Tigers by 10 wickets in Dhaka on Thursday.

Bangladesh's victory over Zimbabwe on Tuesday put Sri Lanka on the brink of the final and they skittled the hosts out for only 82 to set up a crushing win at Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Mushfiqur Rahim (26) and Sabbir Rahman (10) were the only batsmen to make double figures in a pitiful batting display from a Bangladesh side that had won their first three matches in the tournament.

Suranga Lakmal took 3-21, while Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera and Lakshan Sandakan claimed two wickets apiece as the Tigers were dismissed in only 24 overs.

Danushka Gunathilaka, replacing the injured Kusal Perera, and Upul Tharanga raced to Sri Lanka's victory target in just 11.5 overs.

Tharanga struck three sixes in an unbeaten 39 from only 37 balls and Gunathilake (35 from 35) cleared the ropes twice, the openers dealing largely in boundaries to wrap up an emphatic win, striking a psychological blow two days before the final at the same stadium.