Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1: Tauhid Hriday’s unbeaten 96 in the first innings gave Bangladesh a score that looked solid at the halfway stage.
Sri Lanka 287 for 7 (Nisanka 114, Asalanka 91, Shariful 2-49, Taskin 2-49) beat Bangladesh 286 for 7 (Hridoy 96*, Sarkar 68, Hasranga 4-45) by three wickets. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
Bangladesh fought back to the end but a fourth-wicket stand of 185 by Pathum Nisanka (114) and Charith Asalanka (91) proved enough in Chittagong, Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
Bangladesh’s fighting spirit brought the game close, but they were also aided by the indecisiveness and doubt shown by Sri Lanka’s batting unit. Although the final margin of victory – three wickets with 17 balls to spare – indicated a relatively comfortable victory, Sri Lanka somehow dragged themselves from the jaws of victory into a position of defeat as they briefly slumped from 228 for 3 to 251 for 6.
Dunith Welalez and Wanindu Hasranga, the last recognized pair at the crease, needed 36 from 53 balls and in theory it should still have been an easy chase, given Bangladesh’s exceptional ground fielding and the duo’s reluctance to take risks. The equation drops from 26 to 20.
But in the end, Hasranga finished the game with two sixes and a four to settle any lingering nerves. He will leave Wales with just two men to ensure a winning run.
It reached unimaginable levels when Nisanka and Asalanka were gaining strength in their huge stands. Set a target of 287, the pair reduced Sri Lanka to 43 for 3 and a lucky start where some edges and mis-hits ended safely, came into play. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
While keeping the asking rate under control through their stand, Nissanka would finish with 114 off 113 balls and Asalanka 91 off 93 balls. Their dismissal within eight deliveries of each other was not ideal, but in retrospect, they did enough.
Bangladesh’s fighting spirit that forced them into a contest was evident not only in the evening but also in the afternoon. After Sarkar and Shanta’s two innings, it was Hriday’s slow innings and late onslaught that saw them hit back as Sri Lanka took them to a score much lower than the final score.
Hearts, who came into bat in the 13th over, remained unbeaten on 96 off 102 balls, an innings and strike rate that belied the momentum he provided at the death, extending an innings that appeared in danger of losing steam. Along with Taskin , whose 10-ball 18 cameo also provided good support, the pair put on 50 from just 23 balls as Bangladesh scored 80 in the last 10 overs – 54 of which came in the last five.
Before that, Hasaranga – who had gone wicketless last time out – had threatened to derail Bangladesh’s efforts by grabbing four wickets for 45 runs. Madushanka also proved pivotal grabbing two wickets early on, and also completed a superb take in the deep to dismiss Sarkar. But worryingly for Sri Lanka (and perhaps even Mumbai Indians at the IPL), Madushanka walked off the field midway through his 7th over clutching his left hamstring. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
Indeed Madushanka was the key to Sri Lanka’s early offence, removing Liton Das and the menacing Shant – who had been discharge twice earlier, the first time for a dropped chance and the 2nd for Sri Lanka’s failure to review the catch back – earlier. Giving way to fielding. The moment is the game of dismissing the government. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
After Sumaya Sarkar played a reverse sweep to Hasranga destined for the ropes, Madushanka raced to his right and took an incredible two-handed full flight to the ball. Sumaya Sarkar may have stood there in disbelief, while Hasranga’s screams of joy gave an insight into what he had endured at the hands of Sarkar under his guidance.
A scalp then brings two, as a moment of madness from Mahmudullah sees him charge Hasranga and swing around the googly to find himself stumped miles out. It meant Bangladesh suddenly went from 130 for 2 to 130 for 4, and Tawhid and Mushfiqur were in a sticky situation, but they were brilliant with their 43 off 57 balls. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
But Hasranga struck once more as Mushfiqur Rahim Started to shift gears. Mushfiqur Rahim missed a sweep after seeing a toss-up leg break on the leg stump and the resulting appeal was both high and long. But with umpire Masudur Rahman deadlocked, Sri Lanka went for the review, proving their excitement with three reds. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1
When Hasranga dismissed Hasan Miraj a few overs later, Bangladesh were suddenly in danger at a pivotal moment in their innings – much like Sri Lanka two days earlier – but Tanjim Shakib proved his worth with a 33-ball 18-run innings. A capable and tenacious deputy, Hridiya kept the scoreboard ticking by holding one edge. Hriday and Taskin made the finishing touches to take Bangladesh to a ruthless total, but unluckily for the home side, it wasn’t enough. Nisanka, Asalanka and Hasranga Sri Lanka level series 1-1