Sri Lanka Levels Series 1-1 with Stellar Performances from Nissanka, Asalanka, and Hasaranga
The recent cricket clash between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh saw an electrifying display of talent from Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, and Wanindu Hasaranga, leading to a thrilling victory for Sri Lanka, leveling the series at 1-1.
Bangladesh had a score that appeared strong at the halfway point thanks to Hridoy’s valiant 96 against all opposition in the first innings.
Bangladesh 286 for 7 (Hridoy 96*, Sarkar 68, Hasaranga 4-45) lost against Sri Lanka 287 for 7 (Nissanka 114, Asalanka 91, Shoriful 2-49, Taskin 2-49) by three wickets.
Bangladesh battled until the very end, but Sri Lanka‘s tight three-wicket victory in Chattogram to tie the series at one was made possible by the 185 runs that Pathum Nissanka (114) and Charith Asalanka (91) shared for the fourth wicket.
The game was close because of Bangladesh‘s tenacity, but they also benefited from Sri Lanka‘s batting unit’s uncertainty and hesitation. Though the final victory margin of three wickets and 17 balls to spare implies a fairly easy triumph, Sri Lanka had somehow managed to drag defeat from the brink of victory as they momentarily fell from 228 for 3 to 251 for 6.
With Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage, the final two recognized players, at the crease, they were down 36 off 53 because to the wobble. The pair’s unwillingness to take chances and Bangladesh’s outstanding ground fielding caused the equation to collapse to 20 off 26.
But when Hasaranga finally put matters into his own hands and struck two sixes and a four in the course of five deliveries to end the game, any remaining jitters were calmed. With two runs remaining, he collapsed, allowing Wellalage to take the victory.
With a target of 287, Sri Lanka had collapsed to 43 for 3 when Nissanka and Asalanka joined forces. After an early spell of luck in which a few edges and mishits went unaccounted for, they got to work.
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Asalanka’s 91 came in 93 balls, while Nissanka finished on a 113-ball 114 while controlling the asking rate with their stand. Although their firings within eight delivery of one another weren’t ideal, they had accomplished enough in retrospect.
Not only was it late at night, but it was clear during the day that the people of Bangladesh were determined to fight, and they had turned this into a competition. They were on course for a significantly lower total than their final score, but they were able to respond thanks to Towhid Hridoy’s slow-burning innings and late attack, following two innings of substance from Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Having gone into bat in the 13th over, Hridoy finished undefeated on 96 off 102, a strike rate that belied the late burst of acceleration he produced to salvage an innings that appeared to be losing momentum. Bangladesh scored 80 off the last ten overs, 54 of which came in the final five overs, thanks to the combined efforts of the two players and Taskin Ahmed, whose cameo of 18 off 10 also offered outstanding support. The pair put on 50 off just 23 deliveries.
Hasaranga, who had been bowled out the previous time out, had earlier threatened to ruin Bangladesh’s chances by taking four wickets at a cost of forty-five runs. Additionally, Dilshan Madushanka was crucial, taking two wickets early on and dismissing Sarkar with a brilliant deep catch. However, Madushanka’s departure from the pitch during his seventh over, holding his left hamstring, is concerning for both Sri Lanka and possibly the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Certainly, Madushanka played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s early offensive, dismissing both Litton Das and the dangerous Shanto, who had twice before been saved by a dropped catch and Sri Lanka’s failure to review a caught behind, before providing the game-winning fielding moment to remove Sarkar.
Following Sarkar’s flawless reverse sweep off Hasaranga that was headed for the ropes, Madushanka dashed to his right and launched himself at the ball, making an amazing grab with both hands in midair. The ecstatic yells from Hasaranga gave Sarkar a glimpse into the thrashing he had endured at the hands of Sarkar earlier, as he stood there in shock.
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After taking one scalp, Mahmudullah’s insane outburst caused him to charge Hasaranga and swing around wildly, ultimately leaving him stumped several miles away. This meant that Bangladesh had gone from 130 for 2 to 130 for 4, putting Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim in a difficult situation, but they were outstanding with their 43-ball stand in 57 balls.
But Hasaranga struck again just as Mushfiqur was beginning to change gears. Mushfiqur missed a sweep due to a tossed-up leg break on leg stump, and the appeal that followed was lengthy and vociferous. However, umpire Masudur Rahman remained unmoved, so Sri Lanka requested a review, which confirmed their joy with three reds.
Bangladesh were in danger of folding at a critical juncture in their innings, just as Sri Lanka had done two days earlier, when Hasaranga removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz a few overs later. However, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, in a 33-ball innings of 18, proved to be an able and resolute deputy, holding up one end as Hridoy kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The last flourish to get Bangladesh to a competitive total was provided by Hridoy and Taskin, but sadly, it was insufficient for the home team.
