Samarawickrama, Dilhari shine as Sri Lanka clinch T20I series

Harshitha Samarawickrama blasted an unbeaten 49 off just 29 deliveries to set up Sri Lanka's series-clinching win over Bangladesh in the second T20I at Sylhet. The visitors posted 154 and ran home comfortable victors by 21 runs.

Asked to bat, Sri Lanka built a substantial total on the back of a composed top-order effort and a strong finishing kick. Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani stitched a 44-run stand before the latter fell for a 25-ball 27. Athapaththu shared another short stand with Samarawickrama before the captain fell for a 37-ball 42.

At 93 for 3 in the 14th over, Samarawickrama produced a flourish with four fours and two sixes. Nilakshika Silva gave her company in a 61-run stand with a solid 22 to fire the total above par.

In response, Bangladesh never kept pace with the asking rate despite a brisk 46-run opening partnership between Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. Once both fell, the run rate dipped and Sri Lanka's spinners squeezed the chase. Kavisha Dilhari finished with 2 for 15 from her four overs, leaving Bangladesh well short despite a battling unbeaten 44 from Sharmin Akhter.

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) by 21 runs.