In a tense 2nd ODI in R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 16 runs, ensuring a series tie after a one-one series. The man of the day was spinner Tanvir Islam, who took a spectacular five wickets on only his second ODI, sending the batting lineup of Sri Lanka to the pavilion, and was declared the Player of the Match as well. This was the first ODI win in Colombo ever by Bangladesh, and the victory paved the way to an exciting series decider.
Competitive Total Bangladesh
Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first on a two-wicket medium. It was not a very perfect opening to the innings, as Tanzid Hasan was dismissed after scoring only 7 runs, caught by the wicketkeeper, after an Asitha Fernando delivery. But Parvez Hossain Emon and Najmul Hossain Shanto managed to settle the ship with 63 runs, the most crucial partnership of the 2nd wicket. Emon gave a fierce knock of 67 out of 69 ball deliveries in which he hit six fours and three sixes, and Shanto had a mild 14.
The middle order was stabilized by Towhid Hridoy (51 off 69 balls) as Bangladesh managed to stick it out despite the frequent loss of the wickets. A rebellious cameo by the pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who whacked an unbeaten 33 runs in 21 balls with two fours and a pair of sixes, took Bangladesh to a fighting 248 all out in 45.5 overs. The top bowlers of Sri Lanka were Asitha Fernando (4/35) and Wanindu Hasaranga (3/60), and they allowed the total to be within their reach.
Game-Changing Spell by Tanvir Islam
Needing 249 to reach the final, Sri Lanka made a fast start courtesy of the explosive 56 off 31 balls by Kusal Mendis, who hit nine boundaries and one six. Mendis batted on a rampage to a 20-ball half-century, the fastest by a Sri Lankan at this venue in ODIs. Together with Nishan Madushka, he played an exciting run of 75 runs to make Bangladesh pressurized. Tanvir Islam, however, flipped the game upside down.
Sample run: 22 in the first 2 overs Tanvir started after an expensive start with 22 runs being conceded in his first 2 overs but then came into his stride. It was worth the effort as Muralitharan dismissed Madushka, who was caught by Hridoy at backward point, in the tenth over. In his second delivery of the over, Tanvir had Mendis caught lbw off a drive he miscued, and this was upheld on review. Spinner kept on spinning his magic and claimed the wickets of Kamindu Mendis (caught midwicket) and Dunith Wellalage (caught bat-pad) and ended up with the figures of 5/39 in 10 overs, two of them being maidens. His well-directed bowling provoked a collapse in the middle order, and Sri Lanka lost its way between 75/2 and 170/8.
Fightback fails in Sri Lanka.
When Sri Lanka was in danger of a clean sweep, Janith Liyanage held up the fort with a spirited 78 off 85 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. He batted through the innings with Dushmantha Chameera to take the hosts within touching distance, with their innings ending in the 58-run ninth-wicket partnership to take everything to the wire, making the target just 21 runs off 17 balls. But a sharp change of pace by Mustafizur Rahman trapped one of the Thailand players, Liyanage, caught and bowled, and the resistance of Sri Lanka was crushed. The hosts were dismissed with 232 runs in the 49th over, 16 runs short.
Tanvir received backing from Shamim Hossain, who returned economical 1/22 in nine overs, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who contributed with two wickets. Bangladesh spinners kept their composure, thus winning the match despite the three dropped catches.
Past Win and Series Fit
It was a historic victory in the history of Bangladesh, as they were able to defeat 12 consecutive ODIs played in R. Premadasa Stadium. His 5-wicket haul was the second by any Bangladesh bowler against Sri Lanka in ODI cricket after Abdur Razzak achieved this feat. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was delighted with the spirit of his team, as he said it was a score that was defendable in a testing pitch of 248. He pointed out the composure of Tanvir and said that his good captaincy helped the bowlers work on taking wickets.
In the case of Sri Lanka, the defeat brought out their vulnerability in the middle order, having started off aggressively by Mendis and gritty innings by Liyanage. The hosts have to refocus themselves fast as they face the series decider.
The Way to the Decider
The saga has shifted to the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium for the third and last ODI to be played on July 8, 2025. As each of the teams displayed their strengths in the previous two ODIs—batting of Sri Lanka and bowling of Bangladesh—the third and the final game is bound to be an exciting match. Bangladesh shall gain confidence on the basis of the historic win, and Sri Lanka shall be looking to use their home advantage and seal the series.
The fans may look forward to a scorcher as the two teams compete to see who outsmarts the other in this very competitive move. Will Tanvir Islam extend his dream streak, or will the Sri Lankan batsmen figure out how to counter the Bangladesh spin attack? The response will be in Pallekele.
