Bangladesh wins by 8 wickets to level series against Sri Lanka
Bangladesh cruised to a comfortable 8-wicket victory at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Wednesday, ending on 170 for 2 wickets with 11 deliveries to spare after chasing Sri Lanka’s 165 for 5 to even the three-match series at 1-all.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hit an unbeaten 53 off 38 with four boundaries, while Towhid Hridy was unbeaten on 32 off 25 with two boundaries, in an 87-run partnership for the third wicket after the Bangladesh bowlers had done well to limit the Lankans to an achievable target. Litton Das 36 off 24 (5×4) and Soumya Sarkar 26 off 22 (5×4) gave the hosts a strong start with 68 runs off 41 balls.
Shanto struck a six off bowler Dasun Shanaka over deep backward square to seal the victory and his fourth fifty as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka’s 165-5 by 170-2. He ended with a 38-ball 53, including four fours and two sixes. Towhid Hridoy scored 32 from 25 balls, including two fours and one six.
Hridoy and Shanto scored 87 in an undefeated third-wicket stand to speed up the win. Bangladesh lost the opening game by three wickets following an exciting match. The third and deciding game will be played on Friday.
The Sri Lankan openers needed eight balls to start the scoring. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed dismissed Avishka Fernando with a return catch for a seven-ball duck, but Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis combined for 66 runs to pull the team back into the game.
The Bangladeshi bowlers rebounded effectively and increased their control by grabbing wickets in short succession. Soumya Sarkar dismissed Kusal for 36 before Kamindu was caught and ran out after scoring a team-high 37. Mustafizur Rahman defeated Sadeera Samarawickrama (7), who scored a half-century in the previous match.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Player of the Match: “I think it shows a lot of character and how we bowled in these conditions. Really happy with the way we bowled. I’m not giving any bowler’s particular credit, they all bowled really well. Shoriful bowled well during the BPL as well, so he’s found his form and I’m happy for him. I think Litton and Soumya started very well, and later on Hridoy batted really well. What I felt was it was a proper team game. Obviously as batsman you want to score every match. Hopefully I’ll continue my form.”
Charith Asalanka: “Firstly we were short about 20-25 runs, and then Kamindu’s run out also played a huge part in the game. As a batsman we have to make big runs, especially in these conditions. Because it’s very hard for the bowlers to bowl in these conditions. Yes that’s why he’s in the side, he’s a veteran now and he delivers for the team. Credit goes to their batsman, especially Shanto, and Hridoy and Litton. They batted well.”
Sri Lanka 165/5 (20 Overs)
(Kamindu Mendis 37, Kusal Mendis 36, Angelo Mathews n.o. 32, Charith Asalanka 28, Dasun Shanaka n.o. 20, Soumya Sarkar 1/5, Taskin Ahmed 1/38, Mahedi Hasan 1/39, Mustafizur Rahman 1/42)
Bangladesh 170/2 (18.1 Overs)
(Najmul Hossain Shanto n.o. 53, Litton Das 36, Towhid Hridoy n.o. 32, Soumya Sarkar 26, Matheesha Pathirana 2/28)
