Athapaththu’s all-round show helps Sri Lanka level series

Athapaththu's all-round show helps Sri Lanka level series

Sri Lanka secured a series-leveling four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI at Rajshahi, courtesy of Chamari Athapaththu's fine all-round performance. Their talismanic skipper led from the front, taking 3 for 36 from her eight overs to restrict the hosts to 165, despite Nigar Sultana's fighting 58. With the bat, she then made a quick 39-ball 40 to set the base for a chase Sri Lanka completed with 70 balls to spare, aided by Harshitha Samarawickrama's fifty.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat but struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. Malki Madara struck in back-to-back overs within the Powerplay to reduce the hosts to 4/2. Nigar then joined hands with Sharmin Sultana to resurrect the innings with a 45-run stand, which was the best partnership of the day for the home side.

Once Sharmin fell, Nigar continued to forge small partnerships, but Sri Lanka struck back at crucial junctures to never allow them momentum. Nahida Akter provided some late resistance with 20 runs, but the team was eventually bowled out for 165 in under 46 overs, with Inoka Ranaweera and Nimasha Meepage also picking up two wickets apiece.

In response, Sri Lanka faced an early stutter but remained composed throughout the chase. Skipper Athapaththu fell after making more than half of Sri Lanka's 79 at the time, but Samarawickrama and Hansima Karunaratne (40) built a 77-run partnership to all but seal the game.

Nahida Akter, who had earlier claimed Athapaththu's wicket, struck in successive overs to dent Sri Lanka's charge by removing both set batters. Her impressive spell ended with figures of 4 for 21, but it was in vain. The three-match series is now tied at 1-1, with the final ODI set to decide the winner.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 165 all out in 45.5 overs (Nigar Sultana 58; Chamari Athapaththu 3-36) lost to Sri Lanka 166/6 in 38.2 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 50, Chamari Athapaththu 40; Nahida Akter 4-21) by 4 wickets.