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.
Admirable batting efforts from Towhid Hridoy and Soumya Sarkar were thoroughly nullified by the visiting side as they completed the chase - with a bit of a late scare - with 17 balls and three wickets to spare.
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 Madushanka for 40, bringing together Sarkar and Hridoy.
The pair added 55 for the third wicket before Wanindu Hasaranga brok that stand by dismissing Sarkar. Bangladesh wobbled through the middle as they went from 130 for 2 in the 22nd over to 189 for 6 in the 36th, with Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz all falling cheaply.
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.
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 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. 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.
Sri Lanka continued to cruise along when, in the 37th over, their flourish came to a screeching halt. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had 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.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 286/7 in 50 overs (Towhid Hridoy 96, Soumya Sarkar 68; Wanindu Hasaranga 4-45) lost to Sri Lanka 287/7 in 47.1 overs (Pathum Nissanka 114, Charith Asalanka 91; Shoriful Islam 2-49, Taskin Ahmed 2-49) by 3 wickets
Source: Cricbuzz
