BANGLADESH TOUR OF SRI LANKA, 2025
Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam’s five-fer proved to be the turning point for the visitors © AFP
Bangladesh bounced back to level the three-match ODI series with a win by 16 runs in the second ODI. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam’s five-fer (5 for 39) proved to be the turning point for the visitors after fifties from Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon took Bangladesh to a decent score of 248. Janith Liyanage played a valiant 78 but Sri Lanka fell short in Colombo.
Opting to bat, Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan early as he nicked a knuckle-ball by Asitha Fernando to the ‘keeper. Najmul Hossain Shanto played a classic flick to the boundary to get off the mark in stylish fashion and then followed it up with two boundaries off Fernando’s next over. Emon kept the scoring going with two sixes on the onside. He even took on Charith Asalanka’s offspin to hit two boundaries and bring up the 50-run stand between the two left-handers.
Soon after, against the run of play, Shanto holed out to long-on off Asalanka as the hosts brought an end to the ominous partnership. Emon was more dismissive against Asalanka with two slog-sweeps racing to the boundary as he brought up his first 50 in ODIs. Sri Lanka turned to Bangladesh’s nemesis from the last game in Wanindu Hasaranga and the leggie, after keeping the score quiet in his first two overs, struck with the big wicket of Emon after castling his stumps. Dushmantha Chameera then picked up Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the hosts continued to peg Bangladesh back.
But Hridoy (51) and Shamim Hossain were aggressive against the spinners with boundaries coming thick and fast but the latter fell against the run of play to Fernando. Jaker Ali and Hridoy then put on a 45-run stand which also saw the former bring up his 50, with wickets having fallen all around him when he came in to bat. But two wickets in the 41st over including that of Hridoy pegged Bangladesh back. Hasaranga scalped Tanvir but Tanzim Hasan played a crucial 33 to take Bangladesh to 248, before Mustafizur Rahman fell for nought.
In the chase, Tanzim continued to torment Pathum Nissanka, dismissing him for just five. It was the fourth time the bowler got Nissanka in the five ODI innings. Nishan Madushka slammed three quick boundaries while Kusal flicked one over mid-wicket, while overthrows ricocheting from the stumps gave the Lankans another boundary.
The runs continued to blossom and Tanvir’s second over went for a whopping 17 runs, with Kusal being the aggressor. He followed it up against Mustafizur with 17 runs off his first over as Kusal brought up a 22-ball 50. But Tanvir broke the blossoming partnership with Madushka edging one to Hridoy at backward point. Tanvir followed it up with the wicket of Kusal who was trapped in front as the hosts were suddenly three down. The spinners continued to pile on the pressure before Shamim picked up Asalanka as the hosts continued to tumble.
Kamindu Mendis played a fluent 33 before he fell to Tanvir as Sri Lanka had lost half their side for 128. Bangladesh missed a review opportunity off Liyanage but Dunith Wellalage gave Tanvir his fourth wicket. Hasaranga who came out playing his shots, fell to Mehidy as Sri Lanka fell into a spot of bother. Tanvir got his fifth with that of Theekshana as Bangladesh began to wrap things up.
Liyanage played a blinder (78) in a losing cause as he farmed the strike with Chameera, with the two putting on a 58-run stand in the next nine overs to give Sri Lanka a chance. But he fell to a return catch off Mustafizur after a valiant innings. Chameera was castled by Tanzim as Bangladesh bounced back in the series.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 248 in 45.5 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 67, Towhid Hridoy 51; Asitha Fernando 4-35) beat Sri Lanka 232 in 48.5 overs (Janith Liyanage 78, Kusal Mendis 56; Tanvir Islam 5-39) by 16 runs.
© Cricbuzz
