SL Vs BAN Cricket Highlights, 2nd T20I: Shoriful, Rishad Masterclass Secure Big Win For Bangladesh

How’s everyone doing? We’re back with another live blog, and this time, it’s Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2nd T20I. Buckle up, grab your snacks, and stay with us for all the live action, drama, and big hits from Dambulla.

The Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 2nd T20I will be live-streamed in India on the SonyLIV app and website, and televised on the Sony Sports Network channels.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and will bowl first against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara

Nuwan Thushara has the new ball in hand, and it’s Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon opening the innings for Bangladesh. Thushara charges in for the first ball, goes full, aiming for that inswinging yorker, but ends up serving a slot ball instead.

Tanzid is quick to pounce, flicking it beautifully through the mid-wicket gap. Theekshana sprints across from deep square leg and manages to save one, but they still run three. Solid start for Bangladesh.

BAN 5/0 (0.5)

Early breakthrough for Sri Lanka! Nuwan Thushara strikes in his very first over, and it’s Parvez Hossain Emon who has to walk back for a duck. Thushara had been searching for that big full inswinger, and while this one wasn’t quite a yorker, it was still a sharp, full delivery tailing in nicely.

Emon went chasing with an ambitious drive, a bit early into the shot, lost one hand off the bat, and missed it completely. The leg stump is sent flying. Cleaned up for 0 off 3, and Bangladesh lose one early.

BAN 7/1 (2)

Another one bites the dust. This time it's Binura Fernando as Tanzid Hasan falls for 5. The away swing had been troubling him, and Fernando finally gets the edge with a full delivery shaping away.

Tanzid went for the drive, got a thick edge, and Kusal Perera took a sharp catch at short third. Bangladesh two down early.

BAN 7/2 (2)

Towhid Hridoy is looking to hit back with intent. He steps out to Shanaka on the fourth ball of the over and gets to the pitch of a slot delivery, lofting it cleanly over wide mid-on for the first six of the match.

Not done yet, he charges down again next ball, goes for another big swing, and this time a thick edge flies over short third man for four more. A bit lucky, but effective counterattack from Hridoy.

Litton Das is trying to create room against Theekshana. First, he backs away to a shortish delivery and gently taps it wide of mid-off for a single. Then, looking to repeat the move, he backs away again, but Theekshana fires in a yorker. Litton manages to squeeze it out to cover, but no run this time.

Shanaka is under fire. Litton Das picks up a short-of-length delivery on the stumps, shuffles across and effortlessly helps it over fine leg for six. With the fielder up, it was a smart, calculated shot, and a clear sign that Bangladesh are targeting Shanaka in this phase.

Chamika Karunaratne enters the attack with his right-arm medium pace and starts off with a slower one into the wicket. Towhid Hridoy waits on it and steers it down to third man for a single.

These two, Towhid and Litton, have done well to steady the innings after the early damage, but Bangladesh still need a strong finish to put Sri Lanka under pressure.

Binura Fernando strikes again, and it’s Towhid Hridoy who has to go. Just like his first wicket, it’s another sharp catch at short third man by Kusal Perera, diving forward this time, low and clean. Fernando pulls out a short slower ball angling away, and Towhid throws his hands at it, looking to cut hard.

Instead, he gets a thick outside edge that flies to the edge of the circle. Perera makes no mistake. A promising stand comes to an end, and Hridoy departs for a well-made 31 off 25.

Another one for Binura Fernando, that's his third. He sticks to the plan: cutters into the wicket, and it pays off again. This one’s short and aimed at the body, classic slower ball. Mehidy Hasan Miraz tries to get cheeky, shuffling across for a scoop, but ends up lobbing it straight to Nuwan Thushara at short fine leg.

Couldn't have asked for an easier catch. Mehidy goes for just 1, and Bangladesh are slipping.

Vandersay goes short and wide outside off, and Shamim Hossain backs away looking to cut. But he only toe-ends it to short third man for a single, no gap, no timing. Meanwhile, Litton Das is quietly ticking along and inching towards a well-made fifty.

Litton Das gets there in style. Theekshana tosses it up full, and Litton lofts it cleanly over long-off, all the way for six. That brings up his half-century, his first in 13 T20I innings and the 12th of his career. It’s been a calm, composed knock under pressure, a proper captain’s innings. This six should take a bit of weight off his shoulders.

Stand and deliver, Binura Fernando pitches it on a length around off, right in the slot, and Litton Das doesn’t miss out, swings through the line and sends it sailing over wide long-on for a clean six.

Bangladesh finish on 177/7 in their 20 overs, a much-improved effort after a shaky start. Litton Das anchored the innings with a timely fifty, supported by Towhid Hridoy and a fiery cameo from Shamim Hossain.

Binura Fernando was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with three wickets. With a solid total on the board, it's now over to Sri Lanka to see if they can chase it down.

The chase is underway with Nissanka and Mendis at the crease, and Shoriful Islam opening for Bangladesh. But an early blow for Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis is run out for 8. He chopped it to point and set off, but Shamim Hossain struck with a direct hit. No Mendis special tonight, and Shamim continues to shine.

Another one gone! Kusal Perera falls for a duck and Sri Lanka are in early trouble. Shoriful bangs it in a touch short and wide outside off, and Perera goes for the cut but slices it straight up. Rishad Hossain at point moves to his right and takes a clean catch above his head, his height certainly helped. Two down now, and Sri Lanka are wobbling.

Saifuddin fires in a yorker outside off, and Asalanka swings hard but misses. There's an appeal for caught behind as Litton hears something and convinces his teammates to go for the review. Replays suggest the sound came from the bat hitting the ground, not the ball, a wasted review for Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka are sinking further into the quicksand, and Saifuddin gets his second with a terrific review. A full delivery from the bowler, and Asalanka tries to hit it but it goes to the keeper, and Bangladesh appeal loudly. The umpire is not impressed, but they instantly review. UltraEdge shows the slighest of waves, and the Lankans lose their fifth.

Sri Lanka finally crawl past the 50-run mark in the ninth over. The required run rate is almost 12 at the moment. Pathum Nissanka needs to unleash himself if the hosts want to remain in the contest.

After getting hit for a boundary in the first ball, Rishad has the last laugh against Nissanka. He reads the batter's intentions well, pitches it outside off and beats the defence. From then, it's an easy stumping by Litton.

Rishad then strikes again just two balls later, this time catching a terrible shot by Karunaratne. Sri Lanka are six down, and surely out of the game.

Shanaka tries to hit a big one off Miraz's straight delivery, but it hits the lower edge of the bat and is caught by Tanzid on the ropes.

Saifuddin catches the tail-ender with his change of pace. Vandersay has no choice but to try and hit it big, but the slow pace means that he can just find Mustafizur at short fine leg.

It's a sad march towards the end for Sri Lanka. A fuller delivery from Mustafizur results in a swing and edge from Theekshana, and Litton gobbles it up. One left to go.

And the inevitable finally happens as Binura tries to go big, only to miss the ball. Litton is lightning quick with his reflexes and takes the ball off, and the victory is confirmed. 83 runs, wow!