Sports Reporter :
Sri Lanka levelled the One Day International (ODI) series 1-1 with Bangladesh defeating the hosts by three wickets in the second ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, the port city of the country on Friday.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh piled up a fighting total of 286 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka reached the winning target scoring 287 for the loss of seven wickets when they had 17 balls to spare.
Bangladesh had an awful start as opener Litton Das (0) was caught at the square leg by Dunith Wellalge off Dilashan Madushanka when Bangladesh’s total was naught.
After Litton’s dismissal, Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto mended the innings scoring together 75 runs for the second wicket partnership before Shanto was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off Madushanka.
Shanto hit a captain’s knock of 40. His 39-ball innings had four sixes.
After Shanto’s dismissal, Soumya and Towhid Hridoy put on together 65 runs in the third-wicket stand before Soumya was caught at the deep backward point by Madushanka off Wanindu Hasaranga when the Tigers’ total was 130 for the loss of three wickets.
Towhid Hridoy remained unbeaten with 96. His 102-ball innings was laced with five sixes and three fours.
Soumya notched up a fine 68. His 66-ball innings had 11 fours and one six.
After Soumya’s departure, Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim added together 43 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim (25) was trapped leg before wicket by Hasaranga when Bangladesh’s score was 173 for the loss of five wickets.
Later, Hridoy and Taskin Ahmed contributed together 50 runs in the unbroken eighth wicket partnership.
Hasaranga captured four wickets in the space of 45 runs, while Madushanka claimed two wickets at the cost of 30 runs.
Sri Lanka lost their early three wickets for 43 runs.
Then, opener Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka put up together 185 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Nissanka was caught at the deep midwicket by Litton Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when the Islanders’ total was 228 for the loss of four wickets.
Nissanka top-scored with 114 runs. He hit 13 fours and three sixes in his 113-ball innings.
After Nissanka’s departure, Asalanka could not stay at the crease for a long period as Asalanka was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Taskin Ahmed when the tourists’ score was 235 for the loss of five wickets. Asalanka made 91 off 93 balls including four sixes and six fours.
Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam bagged two wickets each for 49 runs each.
