COLOMBO: Bangladesh held their nerve in a tense finish to claim a 16-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.
Chasing a target of 249, Sri Lanka found themselves in deep trouble at 170-8. A resilient innings of 78 by Janith Liyanage revived the hosts’ hopes, thrilling the packed stands with a spirited fightback.
With 27 runs needed from the final three overs and only two wickets in hand, Liyanage launched the first ball of the 48th over for a straight six, reducing the equation to 21 off 20 balls.
But the joy was short-lived.
Mustafizur Rahman responded immediately, deceiving Liyanage with a clever off-cutter that the batter chipped back for a return catch. That proved the turning point, as Bangladesh wrestled back control and closed out a hard-fought win.
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The left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam shifted the momentum in Bangladesh’s favour. He overcame a challenging start to deliver a career-best performance of 5 for 39, a match-winning spell that derailed Sri Lanka’s chase.
Tanvir Islam started poorly in the match, as Kusal Mendis took him on early, putting him under pressure. His first two overs went for 22 runs, including a 17-run second over where Mendis cut, drove, and pulled with ease.
Mendis reached his half-century in just 20 deliveries, the fastest ODI fifty recorded at the R. Premadasa Stadium, surpassing Thisara Perera’s 23-ball effort against England in 2014. However, just as Mendis threatened to take the game away, Bangladesh threw the ball back to Tanvir, a move that quickly paid off.
Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 132 for 6 in the 30th over, still requiring over 100 runs to reach the target. Janith Liyanage kept the hosts’ hopes alive with a composed 78 off 85 deliveries, with two sixes and seven boundaries. However, his partnership with No. 10 batter Dushmantha Chameera remained tense throughout.
Liyanage slammed left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for a straight six, but was deceived by a slower ball on the very next delivery. Mustafizur took the return catch off his own bowling to dismiss him. Tanvir Islam, meanwhile, led Bangladesh’s bowling effort with career-best figures of 5 for 39.
The series decider will be played in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 8.
