BAN VS SL T20I

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.

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.

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.

WIDE! Googly, going down the leg. Wided.

Floated wide outside off, Binura Fernando swings and misses.

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.

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.

Back of a length around leg, Binura Fernando pulls this through mid-wicket for one.

Cutter, going across the batter. Binura Fernando swings and swings early. Gets beaten on the outside.

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.

Back of a length around off, Maheesh Theekshana smashes this to point and takes one.

WIDE! Bumper, wide down the leg. Wided.