Right then, this marks the end of a historic game for the Bangladesh team as they registered a massive 83-run win over the hosts. This win has now set up a mouthwatering contest in Colombo on the 16th of July. The game will begin at 1.30 pm GMT, but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care, and goodbye!
Litton Das, Bangladesh captain, says that they have been trying to play good cricket, but it wasn't happening in the last game. He says credit has to go to Shamim for the way he batted, and he adds that it was amazing to watch it from the other end. He mentions that it was a good pitch to bat on and one had to spend some time on that surface so as to capitalize later. On Rishad Hossain, he says that Rishad is a big factor for his team, and when he bowls well, his team is always in the game. On the run-out of Kusal Mendis, he says that the run-out was crucial in the context of the game, as Kusal Mendis has been in very good form. He concludes by praising Shoriful Islam for his bowling.
Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka's captain, attributes Sri Lanka's struggles to mistakes in both batting and fielding, noting that despite showing promising patches of performance, the team fell short in crucial moments. He acknowledged lapses in fielding and that run-out of Kusal Mendis as part of the game and expressed optimism about making a strong comeback in the deciding game.
Earlier in the day, on the back of a blistering 76 runs from Litton Das, propelled Bangladesh to a well-above-par total of 177. There were some handy contributions from Shamim and Tawhid, too, as they both were involved in 50-plus run partnerships with Litton Das. For Sri Lanka, apart from Binura, who picked up a 3-fer, and Thushara, who bowled well upfront, there weren’t any noticeable contributions in the bowling department.
After that we saw a bit of fight back from Sri Lanka through Nissanka and Shanaka, who stitched together a 41-run stand. However, once Pathum Nissanka perished, the Sri Lankan innings fell apart as the last 5 wickets could add only 23 runs to the final total. For Bangladesh, Shoriful was at his best in the powerplay, picking up two crucial wickets. Once the spin duo of Rishad and Mehidy came into the attack, the Sri Lankan batters didn’t find it easy, as the spin duo shared 4 wickets between them in the middle overs. Saifuddin, too, bowled well for his two wickets.
So that will be the end of the game, and BANGLADESH HAVE COME BACK STORMING INTO THE SERIES WITH A BIG WIN BY 83 RUNS. This is also the second-highest win at this venue. The Sri Lankan innings never picked up pace as they were rocked back early, losing 4 wickets in the Powerplay. Kusal Mendis, after a big knock in the last game, couldn’t get going, as a run-out in the 2nd over saw the end of his innings. Perera, Avishka, and Charith didn’t last for long, as they fell like ninepins in a space of 15 balls.
Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, OUT! st Litton Das b Rishad Hossain.OUT! STUMPED! A genuine leggie, around off, Binura Fernando gets lured into the drive and drags his back foot outside the crease. In an attempt to get back inside the crease, Binura Fernando lifts his back foot and Litton Das behind the stumps, dislodges the bails right at that moment. This is sent upstairs and the replay confirms that Binura Fernando's foot was in the air as Das broke the stumps and Bangladesh wins this contest by 83 runs.
Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, Wide!WIDE! Googly, going down the leg. Wided.
Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, No run.Floated wide outside off, Binura Fernando swings and misses.
Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, OUT! c Litton Das b Mustafizur Rahman.OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Slower one, cutter angling across the batter. Maheesh Theekshana swings at it but manages only an outside edge that was dropping in front of the keeper. Litton Das dives in front and takes a decent catch to send the Lankan spinner back in the hut.
Mustafizur Rahman to Binura Fernando, 1 run.Back of a length around leg, Binura Fernando pulls this through mid-wicket for one.
Mustafizur Rahman to Binura Fernando, No run.Cutter, going across the batter. Binura Fernando swings and swings early. Gets beaten on the outside.
Mustafizur Rahman to Binura Fernando, Four!FOUR! Full and around off, Binura Fernando presents a full face of his bat and hammers this down to long off fence for a boundary. Something for the Lankan fans to cheer about.
Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, 1 run.Back of a length around off, Maheesh Theekshana smashes this to point and takes one.
Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, Wide!WIDE! Bumper, wide down the leg. Wided.
Mustafizur Rahman to Maheesh Theekshana, No run.Back of a length around middle and leg, Maheesh Theekshana charges down the track and looks for the pull but gets it off the inside and chops it to short third.
Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, No run.Too full, on off. Binura Fernando drives this to covers for no run.
Rishad Hossain to Maheesh Theekshana, 1 run.Quicker and fuller around leg, Maheesh Theekshana tucks this away for one.
Rishad Hossain to Maheesh Theekshana, No run.Fuller, around off and turning away from the batter. Maheesh Theekshana swings and gets a leading edge that drops just in front of Mehidy Hasan Miraz at backward point.
Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, 1 run.Darted into the stumps, Binura Fernando tucks this to square leg and takes a single.
Rishad Hossain to Binura Fernando, No run.Floated wide of off, Binura Fernando looks for the cut but misses out.
Rishad Hossain to Maheesh Theekshana, 1 run.Tossed up on off, Maheesh Theekshana drives this to long off for one.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Binura Fernando, No run.Nails the yorker on off to the new batter. Binura Fernando does well to block this out.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Jeffrey Vandersay, OUT! c Mustafizur Rahman b Mohammad Saifuddin.OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Jeffrey Vandersay looks to get cheeky but pays the price. Slower one, around off. Jeffrey Vandersay moves across and looks to ramp this over the short fine leg fielder. Gets it away from he sticker of his bat and only towards Mustafizur Rahman at short fine leg. Fizz had to track back and outstretch to his right to take this beauty.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Maheesh Theekshana, 1 run.Short-pitched, around leg. Maheesh Theekshana gets this away towards deep square for a single.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Maheesh Theekshana, No run.On a length around off, Maheesh Theekshana pushes this to covers for no run.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Jeffrey Vandersay, 1 run.Short-pitched, on leg. Jeffrey Vandersay goes for the pull but gets late at it. Gets it mistimed to square leg for one.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Maheesh Theekshana, 1 run.Good length on middle and leg, Maheesh Theekshana pushes this through mid on for a single.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Jeffrey Vandersay, No run.A touch shorter and flatter through the air, around off, Jeffrey Vandersay goes for the reverse and misses. The ball hits his gloves and ricochets onto his body and drops into the ground. Litton Das leaps in front but can't quite get to the ball.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Jeffrey Vandersay, Six!SIX! THAT HAS COME FROM NOWHERE! Tossed up off break on off, Jeffrey Vandersay tonks it over long off for a biggie.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Jeffrey Vandersay, No run.Short on middle leg, Jeffrey Vandersay pushes it to short mid-wicket.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Maheesh Theekshana, 1 run.Fuller on middle, Theekshana looks to block it off the front foot and gets an inside edge that goes wide of short fine leg. Single taken.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Maheesh Theekshana, No run.Short, around off, Theekshana pushes it off the back foot to short cover.
Maheesh Theekshana walks in at number 9.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, OUT! c Tanzid Hasan b Mehidy Hasan Miraz.OUT! CAUGHT! Sri Lanka has lost the plot completely! Tossed up off break on middle, inviting the batter to go big. Shanaka accepts the invitation as he goes for the slog sweep and doesn't middle it whatsoever as Tanzid Hasan at deep mid-wicket settles under it and gobbles it up. Mehidy Hasan Miraz has his first.
Rishad Hossain to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Tossed up, outside off, Dasun pushes it to point and takes a single.
Rishad Hossain to Jeffrey Vandersay, 1 run.Short on middle and leg, Jeffrey Vandersay works it into the leg side for one to get off the mark.
Jeffrey Vandersay walks in at number 8.
Rishad Hossain to Chamika Karunaratne, OUT! c & b Rishad Hossain.OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Tossed up leg break, given a lot of air, turning away, around off, Chamika Karunaratne looks to flick it and gets a leading edge, giving a dolly of a catch to Rishad Hossain.
Rishad Hossain to Chamika Karunaratne, No run.BEATEN! Tossed up, leg break, slower through the air, outside off, Chamika Karunaratne looks to block it off the front foot and gets beaten. Litton Das takes off the bails and appeals for stumping. Third umpire called in. Chamika Karunaratne has his foot grounded as Litton takes off the bails. NOT OUT!
Chamika Karunaratne walks in at number 6.
Rishad Hossain to Pathum Nissanka, OUT! st Litton Das b Rishad Hossain.OUT! STUMPED! FOUR AND WICKET! Rishad Hossain has the last laugh! Tossed up leg break, given a lot of air, inviting the batter to hit it. Nissanka accepts the invitation and skips down the track. The ball dips and turns away past the outside edge. Litton Das does the rest as he whips off the bails in style.
Rishad Hossain to Pathum Nissanka, Four!FOUR! Full toss outside off, Nissanka sits down on one knee and plays a flat bat hit past the bowler and picks up a boundary.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, 2 runs.Short and down leg, Shanaka looks to play the sweep and top edges it. The ball goes over the keeper, and runs to the left of short fine leg. Two runs taken.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, Four!FOUR SWEPT AWAY! Full and outside off, Shanaka sweeps this one firmly wide of deep square leg for four. That one was hit hard as it travelled quickly to the boundary. The deep square leg fielder didn't have any chance.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Short on middle leg, Pathum Nissanka pulls it to the left of deep mid-wicket for one.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Short on middle , Shanaka knocks it towards long on for one.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Full on leg, Nissanka reverse scoops it towards short third man.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Fuller on leg, Shanaka flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Rishad Hossain to Pathum Nissanka, Four!FOUR! Short on middle, Shanaka is quick to rock back as he pulls it to the right of deep mid-wicket who runs to his right and puts in a dive in front, but misses the catch as the ball goes through him and hits the ropes. Four runs added.
Rishad Hossain to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Again short, on middle leg, Shanaka knocks it down to long on for one.
Rishad Hossain to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Short again, on middle, Nissanka pushes it along the ground to long on for one.
Rishad Hossain to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Short again, on middle leg, Shanaka works it off the back foot towards square leg for one.
Rishad Hossain to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Short on middle, Nissanka pulls it to the right of deep square leg for one.
Rishad Hossain to Pathum Nissanka, No run.Short on middle. Defended back to the bowler.
Spin from both ends as Bangladesh looks to tighten up things even more.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Slower through the air, on off, Nissanka skips down the track and chips it in the air towards long on. The fielder there possibly doesn't spot the ball as he collects it on the bounce. Single taken. Ahh, he possibly could have gone for the catch there.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, 2 runs.Full on middle leg, Nissanak plays the sweep uppishly to the right of deep square leg. Rishad Hossain the fielder there runs to his right gets a bit low and stops the ball from going to the boundary. Two runs taken.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Short on middle, Shanaka works it off the crease towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Dasun Shanaka, 2 runs.Ful again, on middle leg, Shanaka skips down the track and flicks it. The ball goes in the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. Battters run two.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Fuller on middle, Nissanka flicks it towards long on for one.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Pathum Nissanka, 2 runs.From round the wicket, short in length, on middle, Nissanka makes a bit of room and punches it wide of deep extra cover for two runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is introduced into the attack as he replaces Mohammad Saifuddin.
Mustafizur Rahman to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Back of a length, on middle, Shanaka defends it off the back foot, right under his eyes.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Slower length ball on off, Nissanka makes some room and defends it wide of point for a single.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, No run.Back of a length outside off, Nissanka looks to push it into the off side and gets an under edge that goes on the bounce towards the bowler.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, No run.Slower full delivery, well outside off, Nissanka looks to get some bat on it as he reaches out for that one but fails to. Dot ball.
Mustafizur Rahman to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Short aimed at the body, Shanaka plays the pull towards square leg for one.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Back of a length on middle, Nissanka plays the pull to deep square for a single.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Dasun Shanaka, Four!FOUR! NICELY DONE! Length ball swinging away, well outside off, plenty of width on offer. Shanaka places the cut to perfection as he plays it wide of point and picks up a boundary.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Slower short ball, just outside off, Nissanka plays the two-handed tennis pull towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Full on middle, Shanaka flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Back of a length around off. Defended towards cover point.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Length ball on off, Shanaka defends it to short cover.
Dasun Shanaka will now need to stitch a partnership with Pathum Nissanka as Sri Lanka are in deep trouble at this moment.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Dasun Shanaka, Wide!Length ball sliding down leg, Shanaka misses the tickle. Wide given.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Charith Asalanka, OUT! c Litton Das b Mohammad Saifuddin.Yorker outside off, Asalanka looks to steer it and gets beaten on the outside edge. Oh, there's an appeal for LBW. Umpire is unmoved. Mohammad Saifuddin goes towards the captain, Litton Das, and convinces him to go for the review. Here's the third umpire on screen. UltraEdge coming up. Oh, my! There's a spike as the ball is near the bat and the third umpire tells the on field umpire to reverse the decision. OUT! Charith Asalanka goes!
Shoriful Islam to Pathum Nissanka, No run.Length ball angled across the right-hander, well outside off, Nissanka has a slash at that one, but misses.
Shoriful Islam to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Full on middle, Charith Asalanka flicks it down to deep fine leg for a single.
Shoriful Islam to Charith Asalanka, Four!FOUR! A boundary after 3 overs, and Charith Asalanka is off the mark! Overpitched on off, Asalanka stands tall and tonks this straight, over the bowler's head,, as the ball goes one bounce over the ropes.
Shoriful Islam to Charith Asalanka, No run.A touch full again, shaping away, around off, Asalanka drives it to cover point.
Shoriful Islam to Charith Asalanka, No run.Length ball shaping away in the channel outside off, Asalanka leaves it alone.
Charith Asalanka walks in at number 5.
Shoriful Islam to Avishka Fernando, OUT! c Shamim Hossain b Shoriful Islam.OUT! CAUGHT! Sri Lanka is in big trouble here! The third one is down inside the powerplay, and Shoriful Islam has his second. Full and swinging in on middle leg, Fernando plays the pickup that goes to the left of deep square leg, who covers a considerable amount of ground and takes a nice catch near the boundary. Shamim Hossain, the fielder there.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, No run.Back of a length, on middle, Nissanka blocks it back to the bowler.
Mustafizur Rahman to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.Back of a length on middle, Fernando plays the pull to the right of deep backwards square leg who runs to his right and collects the ball on the bounce. Single taken.
Mustafizur Rahman to Avishka Fernando, No run.On a length on middle, Fernando blocks it right under his eyes.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Length ball on middle, Nissanka looks to push it into the off side and gets an inside edge that goes near the short fine leg region. Single taken.
Mustafizur Rahman to Avishka Fernando, 1 run.DROPPED! It's tough to call it a drop, as that ball was travelling and the fielder at short mid-wicket jumped up, stretching his body to the fullest. He got to the ball with two hands, but the ball doesn't stick as it goes into the ground, and batters take a single.
Mustafizur Rahman to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Back of a length, around off, Nissanka plays the steer towards deep third for a single.
Shoriful Islam to Avishka Fernando, No run.Full on leg, Fernando flicks it to short mid-wicket. Dot ball.
Avishka Fernando walks in at number 4.
Shoriful Islam to Kusal Perera, OUT! c Rishad Hossain b Shoriful Islam.OUT! CAUGHT! SOFT DISMISSAL! Shoriful Islam bowls this on back of a length and shaping away, outside off, Perera plays a check drive which goes to the left of short cover who pouches it with ease. Rishad Hossain the fielder.
Shoriful Islam to Kusal Perera, No run.Well directed bouncer, on off, that zips off the surface. Perera goes for the pull and misses.
Shoriful Islam to Pathum Nissanka, 1 run.Full and swinging into the right-hander, on middle, Nissanka swings through the line and hits it to the left of deep fine leg. and picks up a single.
Shoriful Islam to Kusal Perera, Leg bye.On a length, sliding down leg, Perera misses the flick as the ball hits his pads and goes behind the stumps. The keeper runs behind the ball and cuts it off. Batters run a leg bye.
Shoriful Islam to Kusal Perera, No run.On a length, on middle, Perera works it to short mid-wicket.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Pathum Nissanka, No run.On a length around off, Pathum Nissanka drives this to cover for no run.
Kusal Perera walks out at 3.
Mohammad Saifuddin to Kusal Mendis, OUT! run out (Shamim Hossain).OUT! RUN OUT! Kusal Mendis pays the price for being complacent. On a length around off, Kusal Mendis pushes this towards the strong arm of Shamim Hossain, to his left, at point and sets off for a single. Kusal Mendis could have easily made it but he almost jogged at the end and paid the price for it as Shamim Hossain threw at the non-striker's end and struck the stumps directly with the batter short of his crease.