Harshitha Samarawickrama blasted an unbeaten 49 off just 29 deliveries (4 fours, 2 sixes) to set up Sri Lanka’s series-clinching win over Bangladesh in the second WT20I played at Sylhet yesterday.
Sri Lanka riding on Samarawickrama’s flourish at the end, posted 154-4 and ran home comfortable winners by 21 runs.
Asked to bat, Sri Lanka put together a substantial total, built on the back of a composed top-order effort and a strong finishing kick. Sri Lanka got off to a sedate start with Hasini Perera falling cheaply to Fariha Trisna. Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani then stitched a 44-run stand at a steady pace before the latter fell for a 25-ball 27.
Athapaththu shared another short stand with Samarawickrama before the captain fell for a 37-ball 42 (6 fours). At that stage, Sri Lanka were 93-3 in the 14th over and in need of a flourish to finish strongly. Samarawickrama produced just that as she struck four fours and a pair of sixes. Nilakshika Silva gave her company in a 61-run stand, off 37 balls with a solid 22* off 18 balls off her own to fire the total above the par range.
In response, Bangladesh never quite managed to keep pace with the asking rate despite a rather brisk 46-run opening partnership between Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. Once both batters fell after failing to convert their respective starts, the run rate dipped and Sri Lanka’s spinners were able to squeeze the chase in the middle overs.
Player of the Match Kavisha Dilhari finished with 2/15 from her four overs and that meant Bangladesh fell well short despite a battling unbeaten 44 off 47 balls (4 fours) from Sharmin Akhter. Three of Bangladesh’s wickets fell to run outs from brilliant fielding by Sri Lanka who made direct hits, which altered the course of the match.
The third and final game will be played at the same venue tomorrow.