Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka’s match-winning partnership steered Sri Lanka to a three-wicket win against Bangladesh in Friday’s second and penultimate One Day International in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Chasing 287 for a series-levelling victory, the Lankans were in early trouble at 43/3 but Nissanka and Asalanka then stitched together a masterful 185-run stand to drive the visiting side towards their target.
Player of the match Nissanka made a 113-ball 114, studded with 13 fours and three sixes, while Asalanka scored 91 off 93 deliveries, laced with half a dozen boundaries and four maximums.
This was Nissanka’s sixth ODI ton and Asalanka’s 12th half-century.
After their dismissal, the tourists were guided to the destination by Dunith Wellalage (15 not out) and Wanindu Hasaranga (25) with 17 balls to spare.
Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, an unbeaten 96 from Towhid Hridoy powered Bangladesh to 286/7 after four wickets from Hasaranga rattled the hosts' middle-order.
Hridoy clawed the hosts back to a competitive score in the port city, narrowly missing a century but finishing on a flourish with successive sixes off the final two balls.
Soumya Sarkar made 68 for Bangladesh and skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto added 40 before Hasaranga wreaked havoc in the middle overs.
The home side lost Liton Das for the opener's second straight duck of the series, but Soumya and Shanto steadied the innings with their 75-run stand for the second wicket.
Shanto, who hit an unbeaten century in Bangladesh's opening match victory, survived despite nicking Pramod Madushan behind the stumps when Sri Lanka failed to appeal.
He was sent back by Dilshan Madushanka while Soumya fell to Hasaranga after botching a reverse sweep.
Hasaranga was just warming up and bowled Mahmudullah for a duck two balls later, then trapping heavy-hitter Mushfiqur Rahim leg before for 25 and bowling Mehedi Hasan Miraz for 12.
Hridoy, who was dropped on six by Kusal Mendis, made three fours and five sixes in his knock.
The third ODI will be played at the same venue Monday.
2ND ODI
Bangladesh 286/7 (Hridoy 96*, Soumya 68) lost to Sri Lanka 287/7 in 47.1 overs (Nissanka 114, Asalanka 91) by 3 wickets
