CHITTAGONG: Opener Pathum Nissanka struck 114 off 113 balls to steer Sri Lanka to a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh and level their three-match ODI series in Chittagong on Friday.

Sri Lanka were teetering on 43-3 before Nissanka finally found a worthy partner in Charith Asalanka, who scored 91.

The pair put on 185 in their fourth-wicket partnership to guide the tourists to 287-7 in the 48th over, after Wanindu Hasaranga’s 4-45 helped restrict Bangladesh.

Their stand was broken soon after Nissanka hit his sixth ODI century, when Mehidy Hasan forced him to hoist a catch to Liton Das at deep-midwicket.

Asalanka departed the next over when he nicked through to the ‘keeper from Taskin Ahmed.

Dunith Wellalage and Hasaranga kept their composure to put on 34 runs for the seventh wicket and edge Sri Lanka closer.

Wellalage hit Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to cover for a double to complete the win with 3.5 overs to spare.

All-rounder Hasaranga menaced Bangladesh’s middle order after Sri Lanka opted to field first, with the hosts held to 286-7 despite a charging unbeaten 96 from number four Towhid Hridoy.

Towhid narrowly missed a century but finished on a flourish with successive sixes off the final two balls.

Towhid, who was dropped on six by Kusal Mendis, hit three fours and five sixes in his knock.

Bangladeshi opener Liton was sent back in the first over for his second straight duck of the series, but Soumya Sarkar scored 68 and skipper Najmul with 40 steadied the innings with a 75-run partnership.

Najmul, who hit an unbeaten century in Bangladesh’s opening match victory, survived despite nicking Pramod Madushan behind the stumps when Sri Lanka failed to appeal.

He was sent back by Dilshan Madushanka while Soumya fell to Hasaranga after botching a reverse sweep.

“On a wicket like this, me and Soumya should have batted longer,” Najmul said. “We will be looking forward to the next match and hope we do something special.”

Hasaranga bowled Mahmudullah Riyad for a duck two balls later and then trapped heavy-hitter Mushfiqur Rahim leg before for 25 and bowled Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 12.

The series decider will be played in Chittagong on Monday before a two-Test series starting in Sylhet on March 22.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH:

Liton Das c Wellalage b Madushanka 0

Soumya Sarkar c Madushanka b Hasaranga 68

Najmul Hossain c Mendis b Madushanka 40

Towhid Hridoy not out 96

Mahmudullah st Mendis b Hasaranga 0

Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Hasaranga 25

Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Hasaranga 12

Tanzim Hasan Sakib c Hasaranga b Madushan 18

Taskin Ahmed not out 18

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, NB-1, W-6) 9

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 286

DID NOT BAT: Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Liton), 2-75 (Najmul), 3-130 (Soumya), 4-130 (Mahmudullah), 5-173 (Mushfiqur), 6-189 (Mehidy), 7-236 (Tanzim)

BOWLING: Madushanka 6.4-1-30-2 (1w, 1nb), Madushan 9-0-72-1 (3w), Kumara 8-0-50-0, Liyanage 4.2-0-30-0 (1w), Asalanka 2-0-10-0, Wellalage 10-0-47-0 (1w), Hasaranga 10-1-45-4

SRI LANKA:

P. Nissanka c Liton b Mehidy 114

A. Fernando c Soumya b Shoriful 0

K. Mendis c Mushfiqur b Taskin 16

S. Samarawickrama c Mehidy b Shoriful 1

C. Asalanka c Mushfiqur b Taskin 91

J. Liyanage lbw b Tanzim 9

D. Wellalage not out 15

W. Hasaranga c Liton b Taijul 25

P. Madushan not out 0

EXTRAS (W-16) 16

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 47.1 overs) 287

DID NOT BAT: Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Fernando), 2-42 (Mendis), 3-43 (Samarawickrama), 4-228 (Nissanka), 5-235 (Asalanka), 6-251 (Liyanage), 7-285 (Hasaranga)

BOWLING: Shoriful 9-0-49-2 (4w), Tanzim 10-0-65-1 (3w), Taskin 9-0-49-2 (4w), Mehidy 10-0-58-1, Taijul 5-0-43-1, Soumya 4-0-21-0, Towhid 0.1-0-2-0

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by three wickets.

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Pathum Nissanka

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2024