ESPNcricifo: Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against Bangladesh, after sustaining a hamstring strain during Wednesday’s warm-up match in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed.

The strain – to his left thigh - was a “very minor” one, Gurusinha said, and though there was a chance Kusal could be fit enough to play in the second ODI in Dambulla on March 28, the selectors have chosen to keep Kusal in Colombo while the team travels to Dambulla. A replacement is expected to be named on Thursday or Friday, but Kusal will rejoin the squad ahead of the third ODI at the SSC on April 1, provided he recovers as expected.

The timing of this injury is unfortunate for Kusal, who had just worked himself up to some form in his last three competitive innings, after having suffered a lean run of scores going back to the Zimbabwe tour in October. With Kusal dropped from the side for limited-overs series in South Africa and Australia, Sri Lanka had deployed Niroshan Dickwella in the opening position, and it is possible this hamstring strain will deny Kusal the chance to immediately reassert his case.

The first of three ODIs is set to be played on Saturday.

Kusal Perera had been left out for the limited-overs series in South Africa and Australia – Associated Press

Sabbir 72, Mahmudullah 71* in Bangladesh’s warm-up defeat

ESPNcricinfo: Mahmudullah hit an unbeaten 71 off 68 balls and strode into some form in Bangladesh’s practice match against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI, but his half-century could not see the visitors through as they lost by two runs, chasing 355. Also making fifties in the high-scoring encounter were Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Kusal Perera, Sandun Weerakkody and Dhananjaya de Silva.

In pursuit of the President’s XI’s 354 for 7, Bangladesh’s result was of little consequence: the visitors rifled through eight bowlers, and the match did not have List A status. However, a brisk half-century against bowlers who have all played for Sri Lanka may buoy Mahmudullah, who was chastened by his omission for the second Test in Colombo, hit four fours and a six. Bangladesh’s chances had seemed dim at 239 for 7 in the 39th over, until Mahmudullah put on a 101-run partnership with Mashrafe Mortaza, who hit a 35-ball 58. They couldn’t quite push the visitors to victory as Mahmudullah could manage just one run - needing four - off the final ball.

Setting up the chase was Sabbir, who hit 11 fours and a six in his 72 from the No. 3 position, before Mosaddek contributed 53. Soumya Sarkar had also hit a 43-ball 47 to follow his good run in the Test series.

Mahmudullah found some form after a string of poor performances saw his exclusion from the second Test against Sri Lanka – AFP

Meanwhile, at the top of the President’s XI’s innings, Kusal had struck the latest in a series of uncharacteristically slow limited-over fifties. His 64 (retired out) came off 78 balls and featured only four fours. His two half-centuries for Sri Lanka A had also come at less than a run-a-ball. These three fifties came after a long slump for Kusal, during which he was dropped from the Sri Lanka side in all three formats.

Nevertheless, his fifty and de Silva’s half century now creates a little competition at the top of the order, with captain Upul Tharanga, and wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella also having opened the batting for Sri Lanka over the last few months. Sandun Weerakkody, who had played in the South Africa series, but has not been chosen for the forthcoming one, also struck a fifty.

There were no eminent bowling performances for the hosts, save for Akila Dananjaya’s 3 for 61.