A stroke-filled 113-ball 114 from Pathum Nissanka – laced with 13 fours and 3 sixes, and Charith Asalanka’s breezy 91 off 93 laid the platform for Sri Lanka’s series-levelling victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI in Chattogram. Bangladesh fought to the end but the 185-run fourth-wicket partnership forged by Pathum Nissanka (114) and Charith Asalanka (91) proved enough in Chattogram, as Sri Lanka secured a narrow three-wicket win to level the series 1-1.
Bangladesh’s fighting spirit brought the game close, but they were also aided by the indecision and doubt shown by the Sri Lankan batting unit. While the eventual margin of victory – three wickets and 17 balls to spare – suggests a relatively comfortable win.
Pitch and Toss
What we have here is similar to the pitch we played on in the last game. The grass is green and thick but there are cracks on the pitch. There might be some uneven bounce in the first innings and it might skid on in the second half. Par score should be around 260 reckons Russell Arnold at the toss
Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis wins the toss and chose to bowl . The Sri Lankan team make one change to their squad having one change in the squad replacing Maheesh Theekshana with Dunith Wellalage.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto having to bat first makes no changes in the squad.
Despite good start, Wanindu Hasaranga 4- fer wrecks havoc in Bangladesh’s middle order.
Despite Litton Das’s exit in the first over, Bangladesh made a strong start with the bat through a solid 75-run stand between Sarkar and the centurion of the first game – Najmul Hossain Shanto. The skipper however, was dismissed by Dilshan Madhushanka for 40, bringing together Sarkar and Hridoy.
Hasaranga – who had gone wicketless last time out – had threatened to derail Bangladesh’s efforts by grabbing four wickets for 45 runs. Dilshan Madhushanka also proved pivotal grabbing two wickets early on, and also completed a superb take in the deep to dismiss Sarkar. But worryingly for Sri Lanka (and perhaps even Mumbai Indians at the IPL), Madushanka walked off the field midway through his seventh over clutching his left hamstring.
Towhid Hridoy’s valiant 96 carries Bangladesh to respectable 286 for 7 after 50 overs.
The Bangladesh fighting spirit that had forcibly made this into a contest was evident not just late in the evening, but also in the afternoon. After two innings of substance from Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto, it was Towhid Hridoy’s slow-burn innings and late onslaught that saw them hit back after Sri Lanka had set them on course for a far lower total than their final score.
Hridoy, who had come into bat in the 13th over, ended unbeaten on 96 off 102, an innings and strike rate that belied the acceleration he provided at the death to boost an innings that looked in danger of losing steam. Along with Taskin Ahmed, whose cameo of 18 off 10 also provided excellent support, the pair put on 50 off just 23 deliveries as Bangladesh scored 80 off the final ten overs – 54 of which came in the final five.
One scalp then brought two, as a moment of madness from Mahmudullah saw him charge Hasaranga and swing all around a googly to find himself stumped miles out. This meant Bangladesh had suddenly gone from 130 for 2 to 130 for 4, and Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim were thrust into a sticky situation, but they excelled with their 57-ball stand of 43.
But just as Mushfiqur started to shift gears, Hasaranga struck once more. A tossed-up leg break on leg stump saw Mushfiqur miss a sweep, and the resulting appeal was both loud and long. But with umpire Masudur Rahman unmoved, Sri Lanka went for the review, which vindicated their excitement with three reds.
When Hasaranga then dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz a couple of overs later, Bangladesh were suddenly in danger of floundering at the pivotal moment in their innings – much like Sri Lanka had two days earlier – but Tanzim Hasan Sakib in a 33-ball innings of 18 proved an able and stubborn deputy, holding up one end as Hridoy kept the scoreboard ticking over. Hridoy and Taskin imparted the final flourish to take Bangladesh to a competitive total
Bangladesh’s No.8 and 9 batters Tanzim Hasan Shakib and Taskin Ahmed played perfect allies to Hridoy, who hit 3 fours and 5 sixes in his undefeated 96 off 102. The two stands – worth 47 and 50 respectively, dragged Bangladesh to 286 for 7.
Sri Lanka’s falter start but Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka’s 185 runs partnership assures safety.
The hosts looked on course to clinching the series as they had Sri Lanka down to 43 for 3 in the seventh over. From there, however, opener Pathum Nissanka and Asalanka dragged Sri Lanka out of the mess they found themselves in and added a fine, counterattacking alliance that derailed Bangladesh’s hopes.
Pathum Nissanka, who scored a double hundred and a century against Afghanistan last month, added another triple-figure score to his name by getting his fifth ODI century in the 32nd over. Asalanka was at his fiery best, getting to his fifty with a six and hitting four of them in all.
Set a target of 287, Sri Lanka had fallen to 43 for 3 when Pathum Nissanka and Asalanka came together, and following an early period of fortune where some edges and mis-hits ended up safe, they set about their work. While keeping the asking rate in check through their stand, Pathum Nissanka ended on a 113-ball 114 while Asalanka’s 91 came in 93 balls. Their dismissals within eight deliveries of each other weren’t ideal, but looking back, they had done enough.
Bangladesh fightbacks post Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka’s wickets but a cameo from Wanindu Hasaranga sees Sri Lanka home.
Sri Lanka continued to cruise along when, in the 37th over, their flourish came to a screeching halt. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Pathum Nissanka caught in the deep off a slog sweep. When Asalanka fell an over later, caught behind off Taskin Ahmed, Sri Lanka were in a spot of both even as they needed just 52 more to win. After picking four wickets in the first innings, Hasaranga then chipped in valuable runs with the bat to ensure Bangladesh didn’t pull off a late heist as Sri Lanka won the match by 3 wickets and level the series 1-1 with 1 match to go.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Nazmul Hossain Shanto The loosing skipper said : (On Towhid Hridoy) I think he played really well, that’s what we want from him, Soumya also batted very well. I think on a wicket like this the way me and Soumya started we should have batted a bit longer, it didn’t happen but we will try next match. We started well, then they batted well, we came back strongly, hopefully we will do something special in the next match.
Kusal Mendis The winning skipper said : Firstly, I want to congratulate Wanindu, he bowled very well after the powerplay. 280 was a good score on this ground. Wanindu taking the four wickets, I think he is the main bowler in our unit. And in batting, Charith and Pathum Nissanka batted really well. Thank you Sri Lankan supporters and see you in the next match.
Pathum Nissanka Player of the Match for his brilliant hundred said : After the three wickets fell, Charith and Pathum decided to bat normally and looking at the score on the board, they batted long. After the fall of wickets, they settled down and once they settled, they decided that one of them will go after the bowling.
A fine run-chase from Sri Lanka this! Things got a bit nervy in the end but they kept their calm to bounce back in the series. Just like we witnessed the other night, the dew had a telling effect in a major part of the second innings and helped the visitors after a temporary setback. It was a good pitch to bat on.
After being inserted into bat, Bangladesh were off to a good start but Hasaranga’s double-wicket maiden in the 22nd over turned things around. It needed a special knock from the talented Hridoy to help his side recover and post a competitive total. The hosts carried the momentum into their bowling as well as Shoriful and Taskin were right on the money and had the tourists stuttering at 43/3.
But, Pathum Nissanka and Asalanka got together and mixed caution with aggression nicely. Both of them kept the scoreboard ticking and punished the bad balls. The ball came on nicely onto the bat and the duo made merry. Both took the game away from the hosts with Pathum Nissanka notching up a terrific century. The right-left combination made life difficult for the Bangladeshi bowlers and they completely lost the plot.
There were a few dropped catches – although they were really difficult chances but those kind of catches win you matches! Pathum Nissanka fell against the run of play and Asalanka fell soon after, missing out on a century. After that, Liyanage also departed. But, there was no real scoreboard pressure as such. Hasaranga took his side to the brink of victory before holing out. Wellalage kept his calm and hit the winning runs to take his side through. The series is level at 1-1 and there’s all to play for in the finale.