Nissanka-Avishka duo lifts Sri Lanka to the equal place in the ODI series
Sri Lanka clinched victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI to equal the series by 1-1. The victory by a margin of 3 wickets keeps both of the teams alive in this series during Sri Lanka’s tour in Bangladesh.
Losing the toss, team Bangladesh was sent to bat first in the 2nd match of the series. Opener Liton failed miserably again as he failed to open his account for the second time in a row. This early dismissal put Bangladesh under pressure once again. However, unlike the previous match Soumya Sarker – the other opener from the non-striker’s end, played a promising knock today. Along with the skipper Nazmul Hossain Shato, who got a match-winning ton in the last match, Soumya cemented a good partnership of 75 runs off 72 balls before Madushanka got rid of Shato by taking his 2nd wicket. Soumya continued his batting spree and picked up his 11th fifty in the ODI career. Meanwhile, young-ace Tawhid Hridoy gave him company and the Tigers saw another 50+ partnership in the third wicket.
However, Soumya couldn’t continue much after that. During the 22nd over, he tried to hit the Sri Lankan skipper a six with a reverse sweep shot but was caught in the deep backward point by Madushanka. Hasaranga continued the streak by sending Mahmudullah to the pavilion after one bowl. After Riyad’s wicket, Mr. Dependable Mushfiqur Rahim tried to build up an innings with Tawhid but he was also trapped by Hasaranga for an LBW. The same bowler also dismissed Miraz before he played 12 runs innings off 18 balls. Tawhid on the other side, tried to save his wicket for the last few overs. Tanzim Sakib joined him on the 7th wicket and helped him to get his 7th fifty in his ODI career. This partnership was a little bit slow but lifted Bangladesh to get a decent score of 286.
When Sakib got out in the first ball of the 47th over, Bangladesh was 236/7. Then Tawhid and Taskin blew a storm over Lankan bowlers by adding 50 runs in the last 23 balls. Tawhid was unlucky though – was unbeaten on 96 while Taskin remained not out on 18 off 10 balls.
But for the Lankan side, the situation was almost the opposite of the previous game. They lost their top 3 batters – Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawikrama in the first power play. On the other hand, opener Pathum Nissaka and Charith Asalanka built a match-winning record 185 runs partnership. Asalanka missed a well-deserved century like Tawhid as he was caught behind at 91 while playing Taskin during the last bowl of the 38th over. Nissanka was dismissed before him but he managed to damage the host side with his 114 run-innings off 113 balls. Hasaranga played a nice finishing innings before being out while trying to hit Taijul for a winning boundary.
Among the Bangladeshi bowling unit Shoriful and Taskin took 2 wickets each while Tanzim, Miraz and Taijul had one wicket each beside their name.
Both of the teams will face each other for a series-deciding last match on 18 March at the same ground.
