Colombo: Riding on the half-centuries of opener Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy, Bangladesh posted a challenging 248 before being all out in 45.5 overs in the second ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today. The match turned out to be a ‘do or die’ contest for Bangladesh to stay alive in the series following a 77-run defeat in the first match.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Emon, who brought up a half-century in his only second ODI, scored a team-best 67 off 69, smashing six fours and three sixes. Hridoy drove the side later and scored 51 before being trapped run out after a misunderstanding between him and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He reacted angrily to Tanzim, who initially nodded positively for a second run before signaling Hridoy to go back. By then, Hridoy was halfway through the crease.
Tanzid then took the onus, hammering a 21-ball 33 not out with two fours and as many sixes to edge the side closer to the 250-mark. After opting to bat first, Bangladesh got a fluent start, thanks to Emon, despite the early departure of Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who made a 61-ball 62 in the first ODI.
Asitha Fernando, who claimed 4-35, had Tazid caught by wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis, baffling him with a slower delivery. Unfazed by the departure of Taznid, Emon went after the bowlers in an audacious way as Bangladesh scored at six runs per over. He slog-swept Charith Asalanka for a six and then swept him for a boundary to raise his maiden fifty off 48 balls.
The introduction of Wanindu Hasanranga slowed him down as he found his googly and cunning leg-break tougher to deal with. Hasanranga finally rattled his stumps with a googly. Fernando then jolted the middle order amid Hridoy’s resistance. After just reaching his fifty, Hridoy was trapped run out, and Hasanranga came back in his second spell to clean up the tail, finishing with 3-60.