Nissanka, Asalanka and Hasaranga star as Sri Lanka level series 1-1

Bangladesh fought to the end but the 185-run fourth-wicket partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka proved just enough in Chattogram, as Sri Lanka secured a narrow three-wicket win to level the series at 1-1.

That the game was even this close is a credit to the fighting spirit shown by the home side, as well as what doubt and indecision can do to a batting unit. While the eventual margin of victory – three wickets and 17 balls to spare – speaks towards this being a relatively comfortable win, Sri Lanka had somehow got themselves into a position of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory when they went from 228 for 3 to 251 for 6 in the span five overs.

That left them needing 36 off 53 with the last recognised pair of Dunith Wellalage and Wanidu Hasaranga at the crease, and while in theory this should have still been a straightforward chase, Bangladesh’s exception ground fielding combined with the pair’s reluctance to take risks meant the equation had dropped down to 20 needed off 26 at one point.

But any lingering nerves were settled once and for all when Hasaranga finally took matters into his own hands to strike two sixes and a four in the space of five deliveries to kill the game. He would fall with just two left to get, but Wellalage would secure the winning runs shortly after.

That it even got to that point would have been barely conceivable when Nissanka and Asalanka were going strong in their mammoth stand. Set a target of 287, Sri Lanka had fallen to 43 for 3 when the pair came together, and following an early period of fortune where some edges and mishits ended up safe, they set about their work.

Throughout the chase, the asking rate was kept under check. Nissanka would end on a 113-ball 114, while Asalanka scored 91 off 93. Their falling within eight deliveries of each other wasn’t ideal, but in they end they had done enough.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 287/7 in 47.1 overs (Pathum Nissanka 114, Charith Asalanka 91, Wanidu Hasaranga 25; Shoriful Isam 2-49, Taskin Ahmed 2-49) beat  Bangladesh 286 for 7 in 50 overs (Soumya Sarkar 68, Towhid Hridoy 96* Najmul Hossain Shanto 40, Mushfiqur Rahim 25; Dilshan Madushanka 2-30, Wanidu Hasaranga 4-45) by three wickets

(Cricinfo)