Follow UsBangladesh, after losing the loss in the first ODI and squandering a favourable position, almost did the same in the second one at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on July 5 (Saturday), but for Janith Liyanage to play a false shot in the 48th over with Sri Lanka needing 21 more runs to win from 16 balls.
However, Sri Lanka got into such a position, after being almost blown away by Tanvir Islam, also because of Liyanage only. Chasing 249 to win, Sri Lanka lost their best batter, Pathum Nissanka, in the second over itself. However, Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis added 69 for the second wicket in just 45 balls, putting the Lankans in an advantageous position.
But then entered Islam with experience of just a single ODI behind him. He removed both Madushka and Kusal. With Charith Asalanka getting dismissed by Shamim Hossain, the hosts were four down for 99 all of a sudden.
Kamindu Mendis was joined by Liyanage in the middle and the two added 27 for the fifth wicket. But Islam was at his lethal best and gobbled up the wickets of Kamindu and Dinuth Wellalage in quick succession to put Sri Lanka under huge pressure at 132/6.
Two spinners- Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, tried to fight alongside Liayanage, and they took the Sri Lanka score to 170/8. Dushmantha Chameera helped Liyanage stabilise things with a 58-run stand for the ninth wicket.
In the end, it was Liyanage who had a soft dismissal. After hitting Mustafizur Rahman for a first-ball six, he tried to play a cut shot and got caught and bowled. Tanzim Hasan Sakib then removed Chameera with Bangladesh winning the match by 48 runs.
Islam finished with career-best figures of 5/39 and was rightfully adjudged Player of The Match.
Earlier, Bangladesh rode on fifties from Parvez Hossain Emon (67) and Towhid Hridoy (51) and a late burst from Sakib (31 off 21) to get to 248 all-out in 45.5 overs as Asitha Fernando and Wanindu Hasaranga took four and three wickets each, respectively.
The final match of the three-match series will be played on July 8th at Kandy.