Nissanka, Asalanka help Sri Lanka to series-levelling win in second ODI

Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka hit his sixth ODI ton and Charith Asalanka missed out on his century but helped to get their side over the line in a three-wicket win in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Friday.

The win levelled the series 1-1, with the third ODI turning out to be the decider on Monday at the same venue.

Nissanka and Asalanka laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s successful chase of 287 with a 185-run fourth-wicket stand after the Lankans lost three early wickets for 49 runs after seven overs. Nissanka smashed 13 fours and three sixes for his 113-ball 114, while Asalanka, who was line for his ton, fell after scoring a 93-ball 91 laced with four maximums and six fours. The duo, however, left the job undone and the situation got nervy for the visitors. But Sri Lanka’s hero with the ball, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, came out with attacking intent and smashed two sixes and a four for a 16-ball 25-run knock to settle the nerves and take his side to the brink of a win. Meanwhile, Dunith Wellalage played a steady hand with an unbeaten 26-ball 15 to take the Lankans over line line.

Earlier, Bangladesh batters Towhid Hridoy and Soumya Sarker hit contrasting fifties to propel the Tigers to 286 for seven after they wee put into bat first.

Opener Soumya brought up his 12th ODI fifty as he put away 11 fours and a six for his 66-ball 68 but left the job undone as he failed to convert it into a big one, while Hridoy had to manage a collapse and not only held the innings together but finished with a flourish to ensure his side post a challenging total. Hridoy smashed five sixes and three fours for an unbeaten 102-ball 96-run knock which breathed life into the Tigers after they were reduced to 189 for six after 36 overs.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed managed to give able support to Hridoy with 18 runs each, with the latter being involved in a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga did the dame with the ball for the visitors as he returned four wickets for 45 runs.

Tigers back into the contest as Sakib removes Liyanage

Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib trapped Sri Lanka batter Janith Liyanage lbw to have the Lankans six down for 254 after 42 overs which brought the Tigers back into the contest in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

Liyanage, Sri Lanka’s last recognised batter, managed a 16-ball nine-run knock being dismissed. This brought Wanindu Hasaranga to the crease, with Dunith Wellalage not out on five at the other end.

Taskin removes Asalanka, takes his 100th ODI wicket

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed created an unlikely opening for his side when he nicked off Charith Asalanka to have the Lankans five down for 235 after 38 overs in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

Asalanka, who was in line for a hundred, expected a short one from Taskin who came around the wicket but was surprised when the right-arm quike pushed it full. Asalanka’s feet did not move much and he ended up fishing for the ball as it took a nick off the outside edge and nestled into the keeper’s gloves.

The wicket gave Taskin his 100th scalp in the format, making him only the eighth Bangladesh player to achieved the milestone.

Miraz dismisses Nissanka, breaks 185-run stand

Bangladesh off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz picked up the wicket of centurion Pathum Nissanka to leave Sri Lanka four down for 230 after 37 overs in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

The dismissal brought an end to a a mammoth 185-run stand between Nissanka and Charith Asalanka, who remained unbeaten on 88 off 89 balls. Asalanka was joined in the middle by Janith Liyanage, who scored a fifty in the first ODI on Wednesday.

Nissanka hits 6th ODI ton, SL in total control

Sri Lanka batter Pathum Nissanka smashed his sixth ODI ton to take complete control of the Lankans’ run-chase against Bangladesh in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

Nissanka, who survived twice, courtesy of a couple of drops from Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto, reached his ton in 100 balls and put away 11 fours and three sixes in the process. He also stitched an unbeaten 158-run stand with Charith Asalanka, who is also in line for a ton as he was not out on a 73-ball 74-run knock laced with four sixes and as many fours which propelled the Lankans to 201 for three after 32 overs.

Sri Lanka take control after initial struggles

Sri Lanka batters Pathum Naissanka and Charith Asalanka took control of their run-chase as they put together an unbeaten 74-run stand after the visitors lost three wickets for 60 runs at the end of the Powerplay in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Friday.

Nissanka notched up a fifty off 59 balls as he put away six fours and a six, while Asalanka smashed two sixes and three fours for an unbeaten 43-ball 41-run knock which propelled the Lankans to 117 for three after 20 overs.

Shoriful takes two to put Tigers on top in Powerplay

Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picked up his second wicket of the match when he dismissed Sadeera Samarwickrama for one to have the Lankans three down for 49 after seven overs in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

The left-arm pacer pushed it on a full length and pitched it wide as Sadeera’s eyes lit up. The right-handed batter went for an expansive drive square of the wicket but failed to keep it down as Mehedi Hasan Miraz pounced on the opportunity and made sure to keep the ball in his grasp.

Taskin removes Mendis to have Lankans two down

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed nicked off Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis in his very first over to have the Lankans two down for 43 after six overs in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

It was Taskin’s 99th ODI scalps and the right-arm quick is just one wicket away to become only the eighth bowler in Bangladesh history to take 100 scalps in the format.

Mendis had hit three fours for his 13-ball 16 before he was caught in to minds when Taskin pushed up the length and pitched it outside of stump. Initially, it appeared that the right-handed batter wanted to play at it but when it saw the ball moving away off the pitch he looked to shoulder his arms but couldn’t get his bat away from the line of the ball which took the outside edge.

Shoriful dismisses Fernando in opening over to give Tigers first breakthrough

It took Bangladesh left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam just two deliveries to give the Tigers their first breakthrough as he nicked off Sri Lanka opener Avishka Fernando for a golden duck in the opening over of the second innings in the second of the three-match ODI series in Chattogram on Friday.

It seemed that Shoriful would shape it back into the right-hander but on that occasion, the ball pitches on a good length and keep going away with the angle as it took the outside edge. Somuya Sarker, at first slip, was alert to it and nestled in the catch with ease.

Hridoy, Soumya hit fifties to propel Tigers to 286-7

Bangladesh batters Towhid Hridoy and Soumya Sarker hit contrasting fifties to propel the Tigers to 286 for seven in the second ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka in Chattogram on Friday.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed managed to give able support to Hridoy with 18 runs each, with the latter being involved in a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga did the dame with the ball for the visitors as he returned four wickets for 45 runs.
Miraz joins the bandwagon to present Hasaranga his fourth wicket

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz joined three of his precursors who failed to take the attack to Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and then fell tothe Lankan leggie in the second ODI of the three-match series in Chattogram on Friday.

With Bangladesh five down for 187 after 35 overs, Miraz, who was the last recognised batter before the tail, went down the wicket to tackle Hasaranga in the 36th over but he couldn’t get anywhere near the pitch of the ball as it turned away from him and crashed onto the stumps. Miraz scored an 18-ball 12 before shooting himself in the foot and had a well-set Towhid Hridoy batting on a 60-ball 38 at the other end.

Miraz’s dismissal left the Tigers six down for 189 after 36 overs.

Earlier, Soumya Sarker, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Mushfiqur Rahim fell trying to unsettle the Lankan leggie.

Mushfiqur departs to hand Hasaranga his third wicket

Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim was trapped lbw by Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to leave the Tigers five down for 177 after 32 overs in the second ODI of the three-match series in Chattogram on Friday.

Mushfqur, who put away three fours, looked good for his 28-ball 25 but failed to connect a sweep shot as the ball crept under the bat and hit his front pad. The umpire initially signalled not out but upon a review, he had to reverse his decision to send Mushfiqur back to the pavilion.

The dismissal broke a 43-run stand between Mushfiqur and Towhid Hridoy, who remained unbeaten on 34 off 54 balls.

Earlier, Hasaranga pulled things back for the Lankans by dismissing Soumya Sarker and Mahmudullah Riyad.

Hasaranga gets Soumya, Mahmudullah out in quick succession

Sri Lanka bounced back in no time to turn the momentum in their favour as Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah Riyad departed in the same over bowled by the wily and experienced Wanindu Hasaranga.

While Riyad brought his own downfall — choosing to go down the track in the second ball he faced and getting stumped out as a result – it took an incredible catch in the deep by Madushanka to see the back of Soumya despite the batter having hit a well-executed reverse sweep which flew over backward point.

The Tigers are 131 for four after 23 overs, with Mushfiqur Rahim joining Towhid Hridoy in the middle.

Soumya hits his 12th ODI fifty

Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar brought up his 12th ODI fifty and the left-hander appears well set to stretch his knock in a big one, like he did against New Zealand in Nelson last year.

Soumya hit the half-century landmark by sweeping Wanindu Hasaranga’s delivery on his knees, and the ball was too fast for the fielder at deep backward square leg. In the process, he also amassed 2000 runs in the format after 67 matches — the fastest by a Bangladesh player.

Bangladesh, leading in the series 1-0, are 130 for two after 21 overs.

Shanto falls to Madushanka’s peach of a delivery

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto departed for a brisk 40 against the run of play, falling prey to a wonderful display of late swing from Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka.

Shanto was heading to a comfortable fifty before a Madushanka pitched one on a good length and line and with the ball shaping away from the left-hander, leading to Shanto getting an edge to slip where Kusal Mendis dived to get a crucial breakthrough in a must-win game for his side.

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