Latest Match Report – Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI 2023/24

Sri Lanka 287 for 7 (Nissanga 114, Asalanga 91, Shoribul 2-49, Taskin 2-49) lost Bangladesh 286 for 7 (Hiridhoi 96*, Sarkar 68, Hazaranga 4-45) by three wickets

Bangladesh's fighting spirit brought the game close, but the indecisiveness and doubt displayed by Sri Lanka's batting unit helped them. While the eventual margin of victory – three wickets with 17 balls to spare – represented a relatively comfortable win, Sri Lanka slipped from the jaws of victory when they collapsed from 228 to 251 for six. .

But any lingering nerves were finally settled when Hazaranga took matters into his own hands to kill off the match with two sixes and a four in the last five balls. He fell with just two left to go, leaving Wellalake to score the winning runs.

Set a target of 287, Sri Lanka had slumped to 43 for 3 when Nissanga and Asalanga combined, and after a lucky early spell of some edges and false hits that ended safely, they set to work.

Keeping the asking rate in check through their stance, Nissan scored 114 off 113 balls, while Asalanga's 91 came off 93 balls. Getting each other out within eight balls wasn't ideal, but in retrospect, they had done enough.

Hridoi, who came into bat in the 13th over, finished unbeaten on 96 off 102 balls, an innings and strike rate that belied the acceleration he provided at the death. Taskin Ahmed provided excellent support with 18 off 10 as the pair put on 50 off 23 balls as Bangladesh scored 80 in the last ten overs – 54 of which came in the final five.

Before that, Hazaran – who went wicketless at the last over – took four for 45 and threatened to derail Bangladesh's efforts. Dilshan Madhushanka proved crucial early on with two wickets and finished off a brilliant take in the deep to dismiss Sarkar. But worryingly for Sri Lanka (and possibly Mumbai Indians in the IPL), Madhushanka limped off the field midway through his seventh over clutching his left hamstring.

Indeed Madhushanka was the key to Sri Lanka's early offence, dismissing Liton Das and the dangerous Shando – who had been dropped twice before, first by a dropped chance and second by failing to review a Sri Lankan caught – before delivering the fielding moment. A game to oust Sarkar.

After Sarkar reverse-sweeped Hazaranga, destined for the ropes, Madhushanka darted to his right and hoisted himself onto the ball to take a tremendous take with both hands. Sarkar stood there in disbelief, while Hazaranga's exclamations gave an insight into his suffering at Sarkar's hands.

With one scalp and then two, Mahmudullah found himself stumping miles out as he charged Hasaranga and swung around for a googly for a moment of madness. It meant Bangladesh suddenly went from 130 for 2 to 130 for 4, and Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim were put in a sticky situation, but they excelled with 43 off 57 balls.

But as Mushfiqur began to shift gears, Hazaranga struck once again. A tossed leg break on the leg stump saw Mushfiqur miss a sweep and the resulting appeal was loud and long. But with umpire Masudur Rahman unmoved, Sri Lanka went for the review, which confirmed their excitement with three reds.

Bangladesh were in danger of suddenly faltering at a crucial moment in their innings when Hazaranga then dismissed Mehidi Hasan Miraz in a couple of overs – just like Sri Lanka two days earlier – but Tanzim Hasan Saqib's 18 off 33 balls proved the innings. A talented and tenacious partner, Hridoi held up a tip as he ticked the scoreboard. Haridoi and Taskin provided the final flourish to take Bangladesh to a competitive total, but unfortunately it was not enough for the home side.