NEW DELHI, Mar 15
Following innings of substance Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy’s slow-burn innings provided the ideal finishing touches as he propelled Bangladesh to a competitive total of 286 for 7 in the second ODI in Chattogram. Hridoy, who had come into bat in the 13th over, ended unbeaten on 96 off 102, an innings and strike rate that belied the acceleration he provided at the death, to boost an innings that had looked in danger of stumbling at the final hurdle. Along with Taskin Ahmed, whose cameo of 18 off 10 also provided excellent support, the pair put on 50 off just 23 deliveries as Bangladesh scored 80 off the final 10 overs – 54 of which came in the final five. The hosts’ showcase of big hits late in the innings helped them grab the momentum at the break. Before that Wanindu Hasaranga, who had gone wicketless last time out, had threatened to derail Bangladesh’s efforts grabbing four wickets for 45 runs, while Dilshan Madushanka too proved pivotal grabbing two wickets early in the innings, as well as a superb take in the deep to dismiss Sarkar. But worryingly for Sri Lanka he walked off the field midway through his seventh over clutching his left hamstring. With the potential of evening dew firmly on their minds, Sri Lanka had won the toss and elected to bowl first this time out. Madushanka wasted little time – just three deliveries in fact – in sending Litton Das packing for a second consecutive duck.
And it might have been even better for the visitors had Pathum Nissanka at slip held on to a thick edge from Shanto off Pramod Madushan an over later, or indeed if Sri Lanka had had the presence of mind to review a waft from the same batter two balls later, one which replays showed he had nicked.
Shanto to his credit rode this luck and used it as a catalyst to take the attack to the Lankan seamers, scoring 64 inside the first powerplay. A couple of sumptuous drives through the covers on the up showed his growing confidence, but his innings was cut short as he edged a seaming delivery from Madushanka through to Kusal Mendis for an acrobatic take.
The scoring rate however would not ease as by this time Sarkar had also got his eye in. With an uncertain Hridoy at the other end, Sarkar took on the role of aggressor and ensured the scoring rate stayed above six an over. The pair put on 55 off 54, and were threatening much more – particularly Sarkar who was starting to middle the ball with increasing consistency – before he was dismissed by an outstanding catch in the deep by Madushanka.
After Sarkar had nailed a reverse sweep off Hasaranga destined for the ropes, Madushanka sprinted to his right and threw himself at the ball grabbing an incredible catch with both hands in full flight. Sarkar could only stand there in disbelief, while the shouts of jubilation from Hasaranga provided insight into the pasting he had suffered at the hands of Sarkar before that.
One then brought two, as a moment of madness from Mahmudullah saw his charge Hasaranga and swing all around a googly to find himself stumped miles out of his crease.
This meant Bangladesh had suddenly gone from 130 for 2 to 130 for 4, and it was left to Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim to consolidate. And so they did in a stand worth 43 off 57.
But just as Mushfiqur had begun to shift gears, Hasaranga struck once more. A tossed-up leg break on leg stump saw Mushfiqur miss his attempt at a sweep, and the resulting appeal for leg before was both loud and long. But with umpire Masudur Rahman unmoved, Sri Lanka went for the review, which vindicated their excitement with three reds.
When Hasaranga then dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz a couple of overs later, Bangladesh were suddenly in danger of floundering at the pivotal moment in their innings – much like Sri Lanka had two days earlier.
But Tanzim Hasan Sakib in a 33-ball innings of 18 proved an able and stubborn deputy, holding up one end as Hridoy kept the scoreboard ticking over before Hridoy and Taskin imparted the flourish the crowd in Chattogram was crying out for.
