The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That’s all from us tonight! We’ll see you in Colombo for the final T20I, the last game of this gripping multi-format series. Can Bangladesh carry this momentum and clinch the T20I leg? Or will Sri Lanka bounce back for a clean home sweep?
Until then, this is Meeth and Bala signing off. Good night and take care!
Litton Das (POTM and Bangladesh captain): Last couple of game, I am trying to play good cricket, but I believe in myself. Credit goes to Shamim. When we were under pressure, the way he batted was amazing. The pitch was good to bat on. You need to take your time before capitalising. (On Rishad Hossain) He's a big factor. Whenever he's bowled well, he has brought us back. Credits to Shamim for that run out as well. Also, Shoriful bowled really well on his comeback. It was a very good team effort overall.
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka captain): We were undone by bad batting and good fielding by Bangladesh. We were bad in the field. We were doing good in patches. Right now, we are in the situation where we were in the ODIs. I just want to make a good comeback next match.
10:06 PM Local Time & IST: Bangladesh win by 83 runs to level the 3-match series 1-1.
Litton Das - 76 (50) | Rishad Hossain - 3/18 Pathum Nissanka - 32 (29) | Binura Fernando - 3/31
Bangladesh have absolutely thumped Sri Lanka in Dambulla to level the three-match T20I series 1-1, handing the hosts their lowest-ever T20I total at home. A collective bowling performance backed up by sharp fielding dismantled the Lankan batting order as they folded for just 94 in 17 overs.
It all began in the first innings where Bangladesh, despite losing both openers inside the first two overs, recovered beautifully to post a commanding 177/7. Litton Das was at the heart of the rebuild, showing great composure and skill en route to a fluent 76 off 50 balls, his highest T20I score against Sri Lanka. He was ably supported first by Towhid Hridoy in a gritty 69-run partnership, and later by Shamim Hossain, whose enterprising 48 (27) gave Bangladesh a perfect launchpad.
Even as Binura Fernando pulled things back for Sri Lanka with a brilliant spell of 3/31, including two wickets in one over, Bangladesh piled on 108 runs in the last 10 overs, setting a stiff target of 178. A late flurry of wickets did hurt them in the final two overs, but by then, they had enough on the board.
The chase began in dramatic fashion with both Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis back in the pavilion within the first three overs, one via a sharp direct hit from Shamim. Avishka Fernando was handed a life early on but couldn’t make it count. Pathum Nissanka tried to steady things, but Rishad Hossain turned the game on its head with a double strike.
From there, Sri Lanka never recovered. Shanaka’s brief resistance was ended by spin once again as Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck, and soon after, the lower order offered little fight.
Bangladesh will be delighted with this all-round performance, both with the bat and ball. They came into this game needing a win to stay alive, and they have done it in some style.
The series is now level at 1-1, with everything to play for in the final T20I. Sri Lanka will look to finish their multi-format home season with a clean sweep, but Bangladesh now have the opportunity to walk away with a T20I series win.
Binura Fernando has been dismissed for 6 runs off 9 balls
15.2 Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, beats him in the flight and Litton whips the bails off! Big shout and the umpire sends it upstairs. Fernando has dragged his foot outside. He tries to get back in, but the replays show that his foot is in the air as Litton takes the bails off. That caps off a disappointing show with the bat by Sri Lanka
15.2 Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, wrong'un, turns a mile and goes well down the leg-side
15.1 Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, good length on the off-stump turning away. He pokes at the ball and gets beaten
Nine down now and it's Mustafizur Rahman who joins the party. Bangladesh are just one wicket away from sealing this contest and level the series.
Nuwan Thushara batting at 11th position
Maheesh Theekshana has been dismissed for 6 runs off 11 balls
15
overs
93/9score
0
1wd
1
4
0
1
w
runs
Maheesh Theekshana*
6(11)
Binura Fernando
6(7)
Mustafizur Rahman
1/14
14.6 Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, OUT! Full ball angling across. Theekshana goes hard and gets an outside edge. Good low catch by Litton Das behind the stumps. The umpires take a look at it to ensure it has carried. That's right into the middle of his gloves
14.5 Mustafizur Rahman to Binura Fernando, doesn't pick the slower ball and miscues the pull to mid-wicket
14.4 Mustafizur Rahman to Binura Fernando, off-cutter into the pitch angling across. He is bamboozled by the change in pace and swings way early
14.3 Mustafizur Rahman to Binura Fernando, FOUR! Wow! Half-volley on the stumps, drives it straight back past the bowler. That's a straight drive any batter would be proud of
14.2 Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, full ball on the stumps. Gets a thick inside edge to mid-wicket
14.2 Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, wayward bouncer, sailing way over the batter
14.1 Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, charges down the track and almost swings himself off the feet. Makes no contact in the end
Mustafizur Rahman [2.0-0-7-0] comes back into the attack
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Maheesh Theekshana
*
Mustafizur Rahman
Video
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