Bangladesh outplay Sri Lanka in second T20I to level series

Monday, 14 July 2025 03:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Skipper Litton Das set the tone for the Bangladesh innings with 76 off 50 balls

Pathum Nissanka tried to repair Sri Lanka’s collapse with 32

Shoriful Islam made early inroads for Bangladesh

Bowls out SL for lowest total at home - 94

Binura Fernando struck vital blows for Sri Lanka to finish with 3/31

DAMBULLA: Bangladesh came up with a clinical performance in all three departments to outplay Sri Lanka and win the second T20I by a whopping margin of 83 runs at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The win saw Bangladesh level the three-match series one-all, with the series decider to be played at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Bangladesh lost the toss for the second time in the series and, invited to bat first, lost their two openers early to be 7-2. But Litton Das played a captain’s knock to steady the ship for them – 76 off 50 balls (1 four, 5 sixes) – and was involved in a couple of crucial partnerships, the first of which was with Towhid Hridoy of 69 off 55 balls. Both batsmen scored runs at a brisk rate, but Binura Fernando broke the partnership at the right time, dismissing Towhid (31 off 25). Mehidy Hasan didn’t last long either, as Binura Fernando dismissed him in the same over, reducing Bangladesh to 78-4. Just when they were in a spot of bother, Shamim Hossain walked in and counter-attacked the Lankan bowlers, dealing in boundaries and rotating the strike at the same time.

With his Captain, Shamim added 77 off 39 balls that enabled Bangladesh to post a challenging total of 177-7. It was Shamim’s devastating hit of 48 off 27 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) that gave a late impetus to the Bangladesh innings, as the last six overs produced 76 runs.

In reply, the in-form Kusal Mendis’ run-out by Shamim in the second over put Sri Lanka on the back foot early in the run chase. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals following Mendi’s dismissal and never looked comfortable against the varied pace and spin attack of Bangladesh, who were also brilliant in the field.

Pathum Nissanka (32 off 29) tried his best to uplift the innings but was done in by a Rishad Hossain delivery that left him stranded outside the crease for Das to put the finishing touches to a stumping. Shoriful Islam ripped the top order and Mohammad Saifuddin the middle and late, as they took a couple of wickets each. Rishad was the pick of the bowlers as the leg-spinner claimed three wickets for 18 runs. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out in the 16th over for 94 – their lowest T20I total at home – and their loss by a massive margin of 83 runs gave Bangladesh their second biggest win in terms of runs.

Das, with his knock of 76 and four victims behind the wicket, was named Player of the Match. Sri Lanka were left to rue the two chances given by Das – a stumping and a catch – the unlucky bowler being Jeffrey Vandersay on both occasions.

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