Sri Lanka level Bangladesh ODI series with Nissanka ton

CHATTOGRAM (Agencies): Opener Pathum Nissanka’s century helped Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by three wickets and level their one-day international series on Friday. Nissanka’s 114 in a Sri Lankan record 185-run stand for the fourth wicket with Charith Asalanka saved the visitors after they’d plummeted to 3-43. Their partnership was key in overcoming Bangladesh’s 7-286, which featured a fine 96no from Towhid Hridoy, as Sri Lanka reached 7-287 in 47.1 overs. Asalanka made a 93-ball 91 and missed out on his fourth ton, but Nissanka paced the innings impeccably, raising his sixth century off 100 balls when he pulled a short delivery off pacer Tanzim Hasan to deep midwicket for a single. He hit 13 fours and three sixes in all. Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam continued his habit of striking with the new ball when opener Avishka Fernando edged the first ball he faced to first slip for a duck. Taskin Ahmed bagged captain Kusal Mendis for 16 and Shoriful got the better of Sadeera Samarawickrama to reduce Sri Lanka to 3-43 in the seventh over. Nissanka and Asalanka rebuilt the innings astutely. Asalanka was in an attacking mood. He slog-swept left-arm spinner Taijul Isalm for a six over deep midwicket to raise his fifty off 50 balls. Bangladesh came back into the game by dismissing both set batters in consecutive overs. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan claimed Nissanka for 114 off 113 balls, and Taskin reviewed successfully to dismiss Asalanka for his 91 which included six fours and four sixes.

Sri Lanka were still 52 runs from victory but Wanindu Hasaranga’s 25 off 16 dented Bangladesh’s hopes of clinching the series with one game to spare. Hasaranga also claimed 4-45 to prevent Bangladesh from reaching 300 despite Hridoy’s brilliance. After Liton Das’ second straight duck, Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar held the innings together with 68 off 66 including 11 fours and one six. Soumya and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, with a fluent 40, combined for 75. Pacer Dilshan Madushanka broke the partnership by getting Shanto to edge behind. Hasaranga removed Soumya and Mahmudullah for duck in three balls. He also dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim, 25, and Mehidy Hasan, 12, leaving Hridoy short of partners. Hridoy raised his seventh fifty off 74 balls, and struck his last 46 runs off 28 deliveries to help Bangladesh post a competitive total. The series-deciding third ODI is on Monday, followed by two Tests.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH INNINGS

Litton Das c Wellalage b Madushanka 0

Soumya Sarkar c Madushanka b Hasaranga  68

Najmul Hossain Shanto 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 Pramod 18

Taskin Ahmed not out    18

Did not bat: Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam

EXTRAS   (B 1, LB 1, NB 1, W 6)   9

TOTAL (50 overs)         286-7

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Litton Das, 0.3 ov), 2-75 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 12.2 ov), 3-130 (Soumya Sarkar, 21.2 ov), 4-130 (Mahmudullah, 21.4 ov), 5-173 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 31.1 ov), 6-189 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 35.5 ov), 7-236 (Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 46.1 ov)

BOWLING

Dilshan Madushanka      6.4-1-30-2

Pramod Madushan 9-0-72-1

Lahiru Kumara     8-0-50-0

Janith Liyanage     4.2-0-30-0

Charith Asalanka  2-0-10-0

Dunith Wellalage  10-0-47-0

Wanindu Hasaranga       10-1-45-4

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Pathum Nissanka c Litton b Mehidy    114

Avishka Fernando c Soumya b Shoriful       0

Kusal Mendis c Mushfiqur b Taskin   16

Sadeera Samarawickrama c Mehidy b Shoriful       1

Charith Asalanka c Mushfiqur b Taskin        91

Janith Liyanage lbw b Tanzim   9

Dunith Wellalage not out 15

Wanindu Hasaranga c Litton b Taijul 25

Pramod Madushan not out        0

Did not bat: Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara

EXTRAS (W 16)  16

TOTAL (47.1 overs)      287-7

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Avishka Fernando, 0.2 ov), 2-42 (Kusal Mendis, 5.1 ov), 3-43 (Sadeera Samarawickrama, 6.1 ov), 4-228 (Pathum Nissanka, 36.4 ov), 5-235 (Charith Asalanka, 37.6 ov), 6-251 (Janith Liyanage, 41.1 ov), 7-285 (Wanindu Hasaranga, 46.5 ov)

BOWLING

Shoriful Islam       9-0-49-2

Tanzim Hasan Sakib       10-0-65-1

Taskin Ahmed      9-0-49-2

Mehidy Hasan Miraz      10-0-58-1

Taijul Islam 5-0-43-1

Soumya Sarkar     4-0-21-0

Najmul Hossain Shanto  0.1-0-2-0

Umpires: Adrian Holdstock, Masudur Rahman

TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough

Match referee: Andy Pycroft