Sri Lanka will be confident heading into the second T20I of the three-match series after their three-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first game. The two teams will clash once again in the second match of the series on Wednesday.

Hosts Bangladesh will be under pressure after losing the first game. This is now a do-or-die match for them to keep the series alive.

Meanwhile, this will serve as a golden opportunity for Sri Lanka to win the match and take an unassailable 2-0 lead to clinch the series with
their batters in fine form.

Bangladesh vowed to stay alive in the three-match T20 International series as they take on Sri Lanka in the second match. 

The hosts suffered a heartbreaking three-run defeat in the first match despite a valiant effort of debutant Jaker Ali Anik and veteran Mahmudullah Riyad.

The first game turned out to be a high-scoring contest where Bangladesh, led by fifties from Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali, posted a stiff challenge to Sri Lanka while chasing 207 for victory. 

However, the failure of their top order will be a concern heading into the next game.

Jaker's 34 ball-68, which kept the match alive till the last over in the big chase, earned the plaudits, especially for its sheer boldness and intent.

He hit six sixes in his innings, which is highest by not only a debutant batter but also highest by a Bangladeshi batter in T20 International game.

Sri Lanka posted a respectable 206-3 but with dew around, the target was achievable. However, Bangladesh suffered a familiar top order collapse to be reduced to 30-3, which proved to be decisive in the defeat at the end. 

The game could have finished much earlier had Mahmudullah Riyad and Jaker not resisted.

The first counterattack came from Mahmudullah who was playing his first T20 International game after two years. 

He struck a 34 ball-51 before Jaker Ali took the side on the brink. Dasun Shanaka then took two wickets including Jaker and defended 12 runs in the last over to deny the hosts from the victory.

Still the performance would be instrumental in motivating Bangladesh to level the series, said Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.

"We started well with the ball but did not execute our plans later," Shanto said. "Mahmudullah's innings was amazing along with Jaker's, hope they contribute in the next match as well."

Jaker, the boy from Sylhet who sent the home fans into the delirium in the first T20, said that they can still take positives from this narrow defeat.

"Losing is always heart-breaking. I didn't sleep the night after losing the BPL final. I would have felt great if we could have won today. I am planning for the next match already. We can take plenty of positives from today's game," he added.

Bangladesh, however, looked no chance to tinker with the best XI for the crucial second match, even though the top order's form is a concern.

Sri Lanka's top order and middle order fired as they expected with stand-in Captain Charith Asalanka gave a nice finishing after two brilliant knocks of opener Kusal Mendis and middle order batter Sadeera Samarawickrama. 

Sri Lanka bowlers also bowled nicely despite the dew effectively neutralized them. Given the total team's performance, it is highly unlikely that Sri Lanka would bring up any change.

But, fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana looked to have some injury concern when he was bowling in the death overs in first T20.

The two teams played 14 T20 matches, so far, with Sri Lanka winning 10 while Bangladesh won just four.

The Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 2nd T20I in the Sri Lanka Tour of Bangladesh will take place on March 7, Thursday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet at 5:30 pm IST.

SL Vs Ban Squads:

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Jeffrey Vandersay

Bangladesh: Litton Das(w), Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Naim, Anamul Haque, Taijul Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib

Source: Hiru News

BDST: 1515 HRS, MAR 06, 2024
MN