Harshitha Samarawickrama struck a match-turning, unbeaten 49 off only 29 balls to help Sri Lanka seal the series with a 21-run victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I at Sylhet. After setting a target of 155, the visitors reached 154/4 and then restricted Bangladesh to 133/5, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightening the contest after a promising start from the batters.
Key takeaways
- Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 49 from 29 deliveries as Sri Lanka won by 21 runs.
- Sri Lanka posted 154/4 in 20 overs, building through the top order before a late acceleration.
- Bangladesh were kept under pressure throughout the chase and finished on 133/5.
- Kavisha Dilhari delivered a decisive spell, taking 2 wickets for 15 in her four overs.
- Sharmin Akhter top-scored for Bangladesh with 44* off 47 balls, but it wasn’t enough.
Sri Lanka’s innings: steady foundations, then a late surge
Chasing momentum early, Sri Lanka began at a measured tempo, with Hasini Perera departing for a low score after Fariha Trisna struck at the right time. The innings then steadied as captain Chamari Athapaththu paired with Imesha Dulani, and the duo accumulated 44 runs in a controlled stand before Dulani was dismissed for 27 off 25 balls.
After that, Athapaththu combined again with Samarawickrama to keep the scoreboard moving, but the captain’s stay ended when she was caught out for 42 from 37 deliveries. By that point, Sri Lanka were 93 for 3 in the 14th over, requiring a finishing push to set a challenging total.
Samarawickrama provided exactly that. She struck four boundaries and cleared the ropes twice, turning the final phase into a platform for a stronger score. Nilakshika Silva supported her with a composed 22, and together they added a 61-run partnership that lifted Sri Lanka beyond the par range and to 154/4.
Bangladesh chase: starts made, conversion missed
Bangladesh began their reply with intent, putting together a 46-run opening partnership between Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. However, neither batter managed to convert their starts into a meaningful chase. Once both were dismissed, the required run rate climbed further and the flow of runs became harder.
With the middle overs tightening, Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept Bangladesh from building momentum, allowing their spinners to squeeze the batting side’s options. Kavisha Dilhari was particularly impactful, finishing with 2/15 from her full quota.
Despite the setbacks, Sharmin Akhter kept fighting and remained unbeaten on 44 off 47 balls. Still, Bangladesh fell short and were bowled out of the contest, finishing at 133/5.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 154/4 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 49*, Chamari Athapaththu 42; Sultana Khatun 1-21) beat Bangladesh 133/5 in 20 overs (Juairiya Ferdous 29; Kavisha Dilhari 2-15, Sugandika Kumari 0-14) by 21 runs.
