Bangladesh posted a competitive 248 in 45.5 overs after a topsy-turvy batting effort in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
In a match they had to win to stay alive in the series, fifties from Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy laid the platform before a spirited cameo from Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave the visitors late momentum.
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz chose to bat first after winning the toss, aiming to put pressure on the hosts with a strong total. Bangladesh made two changes to their playing XI from the previous match, with Liton Kumar Das and Taskin Ahmed omitted. Returning to the side were Shamim Hossain and Hasan Mahmud, with Shamim making his first ODI appearance since the 2023 Asia Cup. However, Bangladesh suffered an early blow when Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for 7 in the third over, trapped lbw by Asitha Fernando.
Parvez Hossain Emon and Najmul Hossain Shanto then stitched together a 63-run stand to steady the innings. Emon looked fluent from the outset, bringing up his maiden ODI fifty off 46 balls, including some fine drives and powerful shots square of the wicket. Shanto, however, couldn’t capitalise on his start and was caught for 14 attempting a big shot off Charith Asalanka.
Emon continued to bat confidently and reached 67 off 69 balls before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga’s googly, with Bangladesh at 110 for 3. Hridoy then took over the anchoring role, batting alongside Miraz and then Shamim Hossain. Miraz was dismissed for 9, again failing to convert a start, while Shamim added a brisk 22 off 23 balls.
Hridoy, meanwhile, reached the milestone of 1,000 ODI runs in his 33rd innings, becoming the third-fastest Bangladeshi to do so behind Shahriar Nafees and Anamul Haque. He remained calm under pressure, reaching a gritty half-century. However, a costly mix-up with Tanzim saw him run out for 51 off 69 balls when Bangladesh were 212.
The innings appeared to be unravelling at that stage, with Zakir Hasan’s resistance (24 off 40 balls) ending to a slower ball from Asitha Fernando. The wickets of Tanvir Islam (4) and Hasan Mahmud (0) left Bangladesh nine down inside 44 overs.
But Tanzim Hasan Sakib had other ideas. The young pacer turned aggressor, smashing 33 off just 21 balls with two boundaries and a six. His late assault, including a pair of early sixes off Hasaranga, pushed Bangladesh close to 250 before the innings ended with Mustafizur Rahman falling for a duck. Hasaranga finished with 3 for 60, while Asitha Fernando claimed 4 for 35.