Bangladesh levelled the series 1-1 with an all-around effort, winning the second Twenty20 International by eight wickets against Sri Lanka. The outcome neatly sets up a Saturday match, which will take place in Sylhet once more.
In summary, match
After being placed to bat first, Sri Lanka gave Bangladesh a goal of 166, which was significantly lower than their first-game performance and just marginally achievable without some excellent bowling. However, Najmul Hossain Shanto played a captain’s knock, scoring fifty runs, and helped his team chase the target with 11 balls remaining. He also kept the visiting bowlers at bay. “We fell short by 20 to 25 runs, and that was the crucial moment,” stated SL captain Charith Asalanka following the match.
Sri Lanka falters and recovers
After choosing to bowl first, Taskin Ahmed hit a wicket in the game’s second over then seized another opportunity to dismiss Avishka Fernando for a seven-ball duck. After adding 66 runs for the second wicket, Kusal Mendis (36 off 22) and Kamindu Mendis (37 off 27) both fell inside seven balls; Kusal was caught behind by Soumya Sarkar’s bowling, while Kamindu was run out following a misunderstanding with his batting partner. Despite Mustafizur Rahman having a mediocre day and returning numbers of 4-0-42-1, that led to another wave of comeback headed by Charith Asalanka (28 off 14), Angelo Mathews (32* off 21), and Dasun Shanaka (20* off 18). However, all it could lead SL to was 165/5.
Shanto constructs the initial stand.
Bangladesh got off to precisely the type of start they were hoping for with a masterful 63-run powerplay. Matheesha Pathirana ultimately removed openers Litton Das (36 off 24) and Soumya Sarkar (26 of 22), but Shanto (53* off 38) and Towhid Hridoy (32* off 25) made sure no more wickets dropped and sent the series to a decisive run chase.
Pathirana concert injuries
Pathirana, who bowled 3.4 overs, was observed the other night clutching his left hamstring and leaving the pitch due to cramps. Angelo Mathews ultimately finished his last over. Everyone will be watching to see how and when the slingy pacer heals since he is also a member of the Chennai Super Kings for the next IPL 2024.
A contentious moment
The Sri Lankan players and coach Chris Silverwood did not appear amused when the third umpire overturned the onfield judgement that had dismissed Soumya Sarkar for caught-behind in the fourth over of the chase against Binura Fernando. Here’s the ball-by-ball analysis of that particular instance:
3.1 Binura Fernando to Soumya Sarkar, no run; Soumya Sarkar is out after being caught behind, but he claims the review right away! The ball appeared to have a little of bat on it as it continued through to Kusal Mendis, but it was a skiddy back of a length ball that slanted in from around off. Soumya Sarkar attempted to draw it over. Let’s get the replays started. When the third umpire sees daylight between the bat and the ball, UltraEdge rolls in and there’s a spike. After the ball had past the bat, in his estimation, the spike materialised. Nonetheless, the stump mic had a noticeable noise. Speaking with both umpires, the Sri Lankan players are really displeased.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 170/2 in 18.1 overs (Shanto 53*; Pathirana 2-28) defeated Sri Lanka 165/5 (Kamindu 37, Kusal 36; Taskin 1-38) by 9 wickets.
