By Bangladesh Clinches Victory in Second T20I, Setting Up Series Decider
In a compelling match, Bangladesh secured an emphatic 8-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second T20I, leveling the series at 1-1. The result sets the stage for a thrilling series decider scheduled for Saturday in Sylhet.
Match Overview
Batting first, Sri Lanka set a target of 166 runs. Although a competitive score, it was deemed insufficient as Najmul Hossain Shanto’s brilliant fifty and captain’s innings ensured Bangladesh chased down the total with 11 balls to spare. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka admitted, “We were 20-25 runs short, and that was crucial.”
Sri Lanka’s Innings
Opting to bowl first, Taskin Ahmed struck early to dismiss Avishka Fernando for a seven-ball duck. Kusal Mendis (36 off 22) and Kamindu Mendis (37 off 27) stabilized the innings with a 66-run partnership for the second wicket. However, both fell in quick succession, leading to a middle-order collapse. Charith Asalanka (28 off 14), Angelo Mathews (32* off 21), and Dasun Shanaka (20* off 18) contributed, but Sri Lanka could only manage 165/5, with Mustafizur Rahman taking 1 wicket for 42 runs.
Bangladesh’s Reply
Bangladesh began their chase aggressively, scoring 63 runs in the powerplay. Litton Das (36 off 24) and Soumya Sarkar (26 off 22) provided a solid start, but it was Shanto (53* off 38) and Towhid Hridoy (32* off 25) who ensured victory with a composed partnership. Despite a valiant effort, Matheesha Pathirana’s 2 wickets for 28 runs couldn’t prevent Bangladesh from leveling the series.
Injury Concerns for Pathirana
Pathirana, who was seen cramping in the previous match, walked off the field after bowling 3.4 overs, holding his left hamstring. His final over was completed by Angelo Mathews, raising questions about his fitness, especially with the IPL 2024 approaching.
Controversial Decision
In the fourth over of Bangladesh’s innings, Soumya Sarkar was initially given out caught behind off Binura Fernando. However, the decision was overturned by the third umpire, sparking controversy. Despite the decision, Bangladesh continued their dominant performance, securing a well-deserved victory.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 165/5 (Kamindu 37, Kusal 36; Taskin 1-38) lost to Bangladesh 170/2 in 18.1 overs (Shanto 53*; Pathirana 2-28) by 8 wickets.
