Thursday, May 02, 2024
A blistering 48 off 18 from all-rounder Rishad Hossain took Bangladesh to chase down Sri Lanka’s 235 to hand the Tigers second straight series win over Sri Lanka as they sealed a four-wicket victory in the third and final match of the three-match one-day international series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday.
Bangladesh sealed the series 2-1 after losing the second match on Friday.
Despite a resilient century of Janith Liyanage, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 235 after they opted to bat first winning the toss.
Coming to chase the target of 236, Bangladesh openers, Anamul Haque Bijoy and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who made his debut earlier in the series, gave Bangladesh a great start as the duo made 50 runs together off just 47 balls.
But soon after, Bijoy was ousted by Lahiru Kumara in the second ball of the ninth over in a full-length outside off-stump delivery as the batter was caught in the cover drive by Avishka Fernando. Anamul made 12 off 22.
Tanjid Tamim came in to open the innings as the concussion replacement for Soumya Sarkar who suffered a neck injury while fielding, and took advantage of the opportunity.
He kept his end secured while wickets kept falling at regular intervals on the other end. Tamim kept his calm batting under pressure and picked up his fifty off 51 balls. He was moving towards the century but was cut to 84 off 81.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto failed in at three as he was trapped on one off five by Lahiru in a slower which carried a caught behind.
Towhid Hridoy, who narrowly missed out on a century in the last match, started well in the match as well.
However, he could not make his innings bigger even after settling down as he made an error pulling a short-length delivery by Lahiru which was caught at the deep backward square by Pramod Madushan. Hridoy returned on 22 off 36.
Mahmudullah Riyad soon followed him back to the pavilion as he returned making only one.
Mushfiqur Rahim took charge of the chase after Tamim was out. He made a partnership of 48 runs for the sixth wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Miraz returned to the pavilion scoring 25 off 40 and Bangladesh were down to 178-6.
After Miraz’s wicket, Rishad stormed the pitch hitting boundaries and over-boundaries. The Sri Lankan bowling line-up was thrown into disarray by his blistering innings. Rishad ensured the victory of the team by playing an unbeaten innings of 48 runs in 18 balls hitting five fours and four sixes.
The all-rounder also holds the record of hitting the most sixes in a T20I for Bangladesh.
At the other end, Mushfiq was unbeaten on 37 runs. Bangladesh reached the port of victory with four wickets and 58 balls in hand.
Earlier, the Lankans scored 235 runs before being bowled out on the last ball of their innings. Janith Liyanage top-scored for the Lankans with his unbeaten 101 while Charith Asalanka and skipper Kusal Mendis made 37 and 29 each.
Taskin Ahmed took three wickets for Bangladesh giving away only 42 runs. Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took two wickets each while Soumya Sarkar and Rishad Hossain bagged one for themselves.
