Tanvir 5-for spins Bangladesh to series-levelling ODI win against Sri Lanka

After the southpaw rips through the Islanders batting in a decisive spell, Liyanage mounts a late counterattack but his dismissal secures Bangladesh’s win

Bangladesh have clawed their way back to level the ODI series 1-1 after a dramatic 16-run victory over Sri Lanka, as Tanvir Islam tore through the hosts’ middle order with a decisive spell culminating in a superb 5-wicket haul.

Chasing a modest 249, Sri Lanka imploded during a crucial passage of play between the 10th and 20th overs, losing five wickets for 57 runs in 121 deliveries at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Although Janith Liyanage mounted a late counterattack with a spirited 78 off 85 balls, the damage had been done. His dismissal with 21 required off 17 balls virtually sealed Bangladesh’s win.

Kusal Mendis had earlier threatened to take the game away from the visitors with a blazing 56 off 31 balls, racing to a 20-ball half-century, the fastest in men’s ODIs at the venue and the fourth quickest ever by a Sri Lankan.

But his dismissal to Tanvir marked the turning point, triggering a collapse that left the lower order with too steep a climb.

Tanvir, who began expensively, conceding 22 runs in his first two overs as Kusal dominated him with three boundaries and a six, bounced back superbly to finish with 5 for 39.

His resurgence began when he dismissed Nishan Madushka (17) in the 10th over, luring an outside edge to backward point after deceiving him in flight.

The wily southpaw then claimed the crucial scalp of Kusal by trapping him in front on review.

In his next over, Kamindu Mendis (33) chipped tamely to midwicket, undone by a delivery that stopped on him. Tanvir returned to claim his fifth, the scalp of Dunith Wellalage (1), in his final over.

While Tanvir dominated the middle phase, offspinning duo Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-37) and Shamim Hossain also applied pressure with tight spells. Shamim was particularly economical, conceding only 22 runs in nine overs and removing the dangerous Charith Asalanka.

Sri Lanka’s last hopes rested on Liyanage, who held firm as wickets tumbled around him.

He appeared composed and blasted clean sixes in the death overs, giving the Khettarama crowd reason to believe. But Mustafizur Rahman (1-56) deceived him with a well-disguised slower ball and took a sharp return catch to remove him in the 47th over.

With 21 needed and only the last-wicket pair remaining, Bangladesh shut the door.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s 248 came off the back of gritty contributions from Parvez Hossain Emon (51 off 56) and Towhid Hridoy (56 off 76), with valuable late fireworks from Tanzim Hasan Sakib (33 off 21) after the Tigers had chosen to bat.

While their innings never gathered full momentum, they stitched together enough partnerships to build a defendable total on a two-paced surface.

Tanzid Hasan (7) fell early, edging a slower ball from Asitha Fernando in the third over. But Emon counterattacked in a prolific 63-run stand with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who contributed just 14.

Emon favoured the leg side heavily, cropping up 72 percent, and cleared the ropes thrice, twice over deep midwicket.

Hridoy was more cautious, anchoring the innings during the middle overs as wickets fell regularly at the other end.

Asitha (4-35) was particularly effective in this phase, dismissing both Shanto and Hridoy and playing a key role in breaking partnerships.

Shamim (22) and Jaker Ali (24) chipped in with brief cameos, but it was Tanzim’s free-flowing knock that proved crucial in the end.

At eight, he struck two authoritative sixes down the ground off Wanindu Hasaranga (3-60), lifting Bangladesh’s total in the final overs before Hasaranga wrapped up the innings by trapping Mustafizur lbw in the 46th over.

For Sri Lanka, Asitha’s incisive spell was the highlight with the ball, while Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera (1-37) supported well with wickets during the middle overs.

With the three-match series now level at 1-1, both teams are set for a must-win game on Tuesday, where Bangladesh will be buoyed by their bowlers’ resurgence and Sri Lanka will look to regroup after a squandered opportunity at home.

SCORE SUMMARY

Bangladesh: 248 all out in 45.5 overs

Parvez 67, Tanzid 7, Shanto 14, Hridoy 51, Miraz 9, Shamim 22, Jaker 24, Tanzim 33*, Hasan 0, Tanvir 4, Mustafizur 0; Asitha 9-0-35-4, Theekshana 7-0-32-0, Chameera 7-0-37-1, Asalanka 3-0-24-1, Wellalage 8-0-32-0, Hasaranga 9.5-1-60-3, Kamindu 2-0-19-0)

Sri Lanka: 232 all out in 48.5 overs

(Madushka 17, Nissanka 5, Kusal Mendis 56, Kamindu Mendis 33, Asalanka 6, Liyanage 78, Wellalage 1, Hasaranga 13, Theekshana 1, Chameera 12, Asitha 1*; Hasan 7-0-43-0, Tanzim 4.5-0-35-2, Tanvir 10-2-39-5, Mustafizur 8-0-56-1, Miraz 10-0-37-1, Shamim 9-1-22-1)

Result: Bangladesh won by 16 runs

Series: 1-1 after two matches in the three-match series

Player of the Match: Tanvir Islam