Mushfiqur Rahim scored another fifty off Nazmul Hossain Shantar. Bangladesh has made a great comeback in two fifty. Mushfiq scored a brilliant half century in 59 balls. With the pair of 87 runs from 96 balls, the control of the match is now in the hands of Bangladesh.
A quiet fifty at the other end is on its way to a century. The Bangladesh captain is unbeaten on 87 runs off 96 balls. The unbeaten pair of two batsmen is heading towards the port of victory for Bangladesh.
As of writing this report, Bangladesh’s collection after 35 overs is 199 runs for 4 wickets.
Opener Liton Das was bowled on the first ball when he came to bat against Sri Lanka with a target of 256 runs. Left-handed Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka’s good length ball was hit by Liton on the edge of the bat when he tried to defend it. That ball was picked up by Lytton’s leg stump. The Bangladesh opener went back to Sajghar after hitting the golden duck.
Soumya Sarkar got out in Madushanka’s second over. Soumya (9 balls 3) was caught easily by Mahish Thiksana while playing at mid-off. Tawheed heart could not stand. He was also bowled by Pramadh Madushan after scoring 3 runs off 8 balls.
Then Mahmudullah started fighting with Shanto. But could not continue for long. Returned with 37 runs off 37 balls. Dilshan Madushankar was caught at square leg while turning to beat Lahiru Kumara.
Earlier, luck did not help Bangladesh in the first ODI of the series at Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. The Lankans did not make the mistake of taking the bat after winning the toss on a batting-friendly pitch. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 255 runs in 48.5 overs by Tanjim Shakib, Taskin Ahmed and Shariful Islam on a batting-friendly pitch.
Bangladesh was sweating to break Sri Lanka’s opening pair. Aviska Fernando and Pathum Nishanka were picking up runs at a blistering pace. Finally, Tanjim Hasan Shakib broke the pair with their 59-ball 71-run score.
Shakib was struck in his second and tenth over of the innings. 33 off 33 balls Aviska Fernando was caught by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim after touching the bat in a delivery that swung a lot.
Tanjim Shakib also returned another set batter Pathum Nishanka in his next over. This time Soumya Sarkar took the catch at slip. Nishanka made 36 off 28 balls.
Then another victim of Tanjim Shakib in the 14th over. One of his brilliant deliveries was defended by Sadira Samarawickrama (3) and went into the hands of the wicketkeeper. Mushfiqur Rahim jumped and took a great catch.
Sri Lanka paired again in the fourth wicket. Kushal Mendis and Charith Ashalanka scored 44 runs off 73 balls on this wicket. However, offspinner Mehdi Hasan Miraj did not allow them to score fifty runs. He broke the pair by bowling back Ashlanka who scored 18 runs off 37 balls.
Kushal Mendis was leading Sri Lanka under pressure after losing three wickets. He was on his way to scoring fifty. But the sensational pacer Taskin Ahmed did not let him go far.
He made Mendis, who made 59 off 75 balls, caught by Nazmul Hossain Shanter in the mid-off region. The right-handed pacer also broke the pair of quick 69 runs back to Mendis. Mendis made this partnership with Zenith Lionez on 68 balls.
Lionage played the highest innings of 67 runs from 69 balls for the Lankans. He was caught by Mushfiqur Rahim behind the wicket off Shariful. Hasaranga, who scored 13 runs off 14 balls, was caught by Tawheed Hriday by Taskin.
Pramadh Madushan scored 8 runs and Lahiru Kumara scored 5 runs. Finally, with 7 balls left in the innings, Sri Lanka were all out for 255 runs.
Tanjim Shakib, Taskin Ahmed and Shariful Islam took 3 wickets each for Bangladesh.
MH/GKS
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