By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka drew even winning a spellbinding high scoring decisive second ODI shootout chasing 287 yesterday by three wickets filled in all the drama of high tempered rivalry and high paced action culminating in brilliant gung-ho run a ball 114  by Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka 91 off 93 with all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga hammering 25 off 16 rubbed in with 2 sixes and a boundary within five balls in the ultimate countdown of 20 off 26 with Dunith Wellalage applying the finish scoring the winning 2 runs in a typical suspense thriller at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram. The characteristic Hasaranga all-round magic paid off with his 4 for 45 checking Bangladesh from crossing the 300-mark. He started with the wicket of Sarkar held by Madushanka and following up two balls later with the wicket of Mahmudullah for a duck in reducing the hosts from a strong 130 for 3 after 21.2 to in claiming the next 4 wickets in the space of 59 runs. He could count himself unfortunate to have been pipped to the Player of the Match award by teammate Pathum Nissanka who crashed 13 boundaries and 3 over the top.

It was indeed the final toll seventh-wicket Hasaranga-Wellalage run a ball 34 that carried Sri Lanka pushed back to 251 for 6 after 41.1 overs from a commanding 228 for 3 when Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka lit up the game in the dazzle of a scintillating 185-run showmanship off 183 deliveries in steering Sri Lanka out of the peril of 3 for 43 in just 6.1 overs after Bangladesh had got rid of the top order of Avishka Fernando for a second ball duck when Shoriful Islam had him held by Soumya Sarkar, Kusal Mendis for 16 caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Taskin Ahmed, and Sadeera Samarawickrama for 1 off Islam who had him caught by Mehidy Hasan. Asalanka made merry with 6 boundaries and 4 over the top.

Sri Lanka’s decision to put in the opposition paid by the ideal breakthrough with the tearaway Dilshan Madushanka firing out Litton Das for a third ball duck leaving Bangladesh on a blank sheet, but the host skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto once again rescued the side with a defiant run a ball 40 (6×4) before Madushanka produced a lion-hearted act to get rid of him enticing him to edge one to wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis – 75 for 2 after 12.2 overs. Next man in Towhid Hridoy was emerged Bangladesh’s trump card with a sterling unbeaten 96 off 102 inclusive of 3 boundaries and 5 over the top while Soumya Sarkak struck a next best 68 off 66 decked with 11 to the ropes and one over, but Wanindu Hasaranga reigned in with a 4 for 45-act in checking Bangladesh from crossing 300. He started with the wicket of Sarkar held by Madushanka and following up two balls later with the wicket of Mahmudullah for a duck in reducing the hosts from a strong 130 for 3 after 21.2 to in claiming the next 4 wickets in the space of 59 runs. Dilshan Madushanka returned a tidy 2 for 30 off 6.4 overs.  

CHIEF SCORES:

Bangladesh 286/7 (50 Overs) RR: 5.72

(Towhid Hridoy n.o. 96, Soumya Sarkar 68, Najmul Hossain Shanto 40, Mushfiqur Rahim 25, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 18, Taskin Ahmed 18, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 12, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/45, Dilshan Madushanka 2/30, Pramod Madushan 1/72)

Sri Lanka 287/7 (47.1 Overs) RR: 6.08

(Pathum Nissanka 114 13, Charith Asalanka 91, 

Wanindu Hasaranga 25, Kusal Mendis 16 , Dunith Wellalage n.o. 15 26 Pramod Madushan n.o. 0, Shoriful Islam 2/49, Taskin Ahmed 2/49, Taijul Islam 1/43, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1/58, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 1/65)