2nd T20I: Najmul Shanto guides Bangladesh to series-levelling win vs Sri Lanka

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hit a superb fifty to help the hosts complete a series-leveling 8-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Sylhet on Wednesday.

Bangladesh first restricted Sri Lanka to 165 for 5 and then overhauled the target with 8 wickets in hand. Chasing down a tricky total, Bangladesh were off to a blistering start with Soumya Sarkar and Litton Das managing to tonk the Lankan bowlers all around the park.

The duo extracted 63 off the powerplay and went on to add 68 for the first wicket partnership. The Lankans were doing well till a controversial call from the third umpire came to the aid of Soumya Sarkar, and he was given not-out on what looked like an edge back to the keeper.

The batter took the aggressive route afterward and scored freely. The third-wicket partnership of 87 between Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto sealed the deal for the hosts. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was the top scorer for the side as he scored 53 and saw his side home.

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka started with a maiden as Avishka Fernando struggled against Shoriful Islam in the first over and soon departed in the second. Kamindu Mendis walked out at 3 and was off to a blistering start. The duo then managed to score freely in the middle. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis added 66 for the second wicket. The visitors lost three quickly, although a good partnership of 53 at the end helped them post a fighting total.

Barring Avishka Fernando and Sadeera Samarawickrama, every batter got starts but failed to make them count by going big. The bowling from Bangladesh was good as they held to their plans and bowled in that in-between channel with variations. Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Soumya Sarkar and Mustafizur Rahman took a wicket each.