Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto‘s half-century helped Bangladesh level the series against Sri Lanka as the hosts completed a comfortable win in the second T20I in Sylhet. The visitors faltered in the middle overs with the bat before Bangladesh’s top four got all the runs. The game was not without controversy though. Soumya Sarkar’s not-out decision during the chase left Sri Lanka fuming, after the third umpire ruled that there was a clear gap between bat and ball, even though Ultra-edge showed a clear spike.
This innings from Nazmul Hossain Shanto means Bangladesh put in an all-round performance to win the second T20I against Sri Lanka by 8 wickets and level the series 1-1. The result beautifully sets up a decider on Saturday, again in Sylhet.
Pitch and Toss
The pitch for the second T20I has a lot of grass on it, it’s hard underneath. The grass covering is even as compared to the last game. It’s going to be tough for the spinners to bowl on this track. Pacers will make more than impact, spinners will be ineffective in the second innings due to the dew.
Nazmul Hossein Shanto Bangladesh captain won the toss and elected to bowl . Bangladesh played with an unchanged team from first match while Sri Lanka made one change bringing in Dilshan Madhushanka for Akila Dananjaya.
Sri Lanka stumble and rebuild to post 165 by 20 overs
Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das deal in fours as Bangladesh got off to a flier.
Openers Sarkar and Litton Das then got Bangladesh off to a solid start, scoring 63 runs in the powerplay which was laced with a combined total of nine fours.
Sarkar survived the controversial third umpire decision at the start of the fourth over, when he was on 14. He then hit a couple of fours in that over, while Litton hammered the first six in the sixth over. Sarkar was however not able to capitalize much on the extra life, mistiming a pull off Matheesha Pathirana to Mathews at midwicket in the seventh over. Pathirana then returned to remove Litton, who was caught at square leg in the ninth over for 36.
A moment of controversy in the match sparks interests.
In the fourth over of the chase, Soumya Sarkar was given out caught-behind off Binura Fernando but the third umpire reversed the onfield decision, something which the Sri Lankan players and coach Chris Silverwood didn’t looked amused with. Here’s the ball-by-ball commentary on that moment:
3.1 Binura Fernando to Soumya Sarkar, no run, Soumya Sarkar has been given out caught behind but he takes the review straightaway! Was a skiddy back of a length ball that angled in from around off, Soumya Sarkar looked to pull it across and seemed to have got a bit of bat on it as the ball carried through to Kusal Mendis.
Time for the replays. UltraEdge rolls in and there’s a spike but the third umpire reckons that there’s daylight between bat and ball. He reckons that the spike appeared after the ball had passed the bat. There was a clear noise on the stump mic though. The Sri Lankan players are not pleased one bit and are talking to both the umpires.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto builds on the opening stand
A brilliant 63-run powerplay got Bangladesh off to exactly the kind of start they were looking for. Openers Litton Das (36 off 24) and Soumya Sarkar (26 of 22) were eventually dismissed by Matheesha Pathirana but Shanto (53* off 38) and Towhid Hridoy (32* off 25) ensured no more wickets fell and took the series to a decider with a convincing run-chase.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Charith Asalanka the Losing captain said :
“We were 20-25 runs short and that was the point. As batsmen, we have to make runs in these conditions, it’s hard for bowlers in these conditions. (On Angelo Mathews) He is in the side for his experience and he delivered for the team. Especially credit to their batsmen the way the batted, especially Shanto and Hridoy,”
Nazmul Hossain Shanto the Winning captain and Player of the Match for his 53 of 38 balls said :
“All credit to the boys, especially to our bowlers, really happy with the way we bowled. I’m not giving credit to any particular bowler but all the bowlers bowled really well. We started with the bat very well and that helped us later on. As a batsman, we need to try and score in every match, I’m happy with my form,”
What lies ahead for Sri Lanka & Bangladesh
Bangladesh have bounced back in style after losing the previous game by a slender margin. Sri Lanka were put into bat once again by the hosts and this time, they weren’t that convincing with the bat. Credit to the Bangladeshi bowlers for keeping things tight and not allowing the visitors to run away. 165 was perhaps 20-30 runs short on what was a great track to bat on and also with the dew factor in play. There was an argumentative event when Soumya’s caught behind dismissal was overturned by the third umpire.
Spotted cramping the other night, Pathirana was seen holding his left hamstring and walking off the field after bowling 3.4 overs. His final over was eventually completed by Angelo Mathews. Also part of the Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming IPL 2024, all the eyes would be on how and when the slingy pacer recovers.
The hosts had a great powerplay as they scored 63 off it. Soumya and Litton departed in quick succession but most of the damage was already done by then. Nazmul Hossain Shanto played a captain’s knock and was very well supported by Hridoy. They took calculated risks and always stayed ahead of the asking rate. The Bangladeshi skipper scored a well-deserved fifty and took his side over the line with 11 balls to spare.
The series is nicely poised with both teams winning a game each. That sets us up nicely for the final match which surely promises to be a thrilling contest.