Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh levelled the Twenty20 International (T20I) series 1-1 with Sri Lanka defeating the islanders by eight wickets in the second T20I at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Earlier, Bangladesh tasted a bitter taste as the Tigers lost to Sri Lanka by just three runs in the first T20I at the same venue on Monday.
Sent into bat first, Sri Lanka scored 165 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, the Tigers coasted home making 170 for the loss of two wickets when they had 11 balls to spare.
Bangladesh had a solid start with two openers Litton Das and Soumya Sarkar put on together 68 runs in the opening stand before Soumya Sarkar was caught at the midwicket by Angelo Mathews off Mathesha Pathirana. Soumya made 26 from 22 deliveries featuring five fours.
After Soumya’s dismissal, Litton Das could not stay at the crease for a long period as he was caught at the square leg by Charith Asalanka off Pathirana when Bangladesh’s score was 83 for the loss of two wickets. Litton scored 36 from 24 balls including five fours and a sixer.
After Litton’s departure, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy powered their team to anchor the victory target scoring together 87 runs for the unbroken third wicket partnership.
Shanto remained unbeaten with 53 runs. His 38-ball captain’s knock was laced with two sixes and four fours. Shanto was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings.
Hridoy remained unbeaten with 32 runs. His 25-ball innings had two fours and a sixer.
Matheesha Pathirana bagged two wickets for 28 runs.
