Image: The Bangladesh team managed to equalize the score in the series of matches against Sri Lanka / © ESPNCricinfo
After losing the first T20I, Bangladesh were determined to make a statement in the second match of the series against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on July 13, 2025. Sent in to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss, the visitors faced early challenges but recovered brilliantly, thanks to a captain’s knock from Litton Das and a fiery cameo from Shamim Hossain. Their combined efforts, along with disciplined middle-order contributions, propelled Bangladesh to a competitive 177/7 in 20 overs, setting a daunting target for the hosts.
The innings began on a shaky note. Nuwan Thushara, Sri Lanka’s slingy pacer, struck in the very first over, dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck. Emon, attempting to drive, was bowled by a full-length delivery that nipped back, leaving Bangladesh at 5/1 after 0.6 overs. The pressure intensified when Binura Fernando, Sri Lanka’s left-arm seamer, removed Tanzid Hasan for 5 in the second over, caught by Kusal Perera at mid-off. At 7/2 after 1.6 overs, Bangladesh were in trouble, with their top order rattled early on a pitch offering some assistance to pacers.
Captain Litton Das walked in with a point to prove, and he delivered a masterclass. Alongside Towhid Hridoy, he steadied the ship with a crucial 69-run partnership for the third wicket. Litton was measured yet aggressive, picking gaps and punishing loose deliveries. Hridoy, meanwhile, played the perfect foil, scoring 31 off 25 balls with two fours and a six. His 39-minute stay included a lofted cover drive and a pulled six off Dasun Shanaka, showcasing his flair.
However, Binura Fernando broke the stand in the 11th over, inducing a mistimed lofted shot from Hridoy, caught by Perera at cover, leaving Bangladesh at 76/3. The next blow came quickly when Mehidy Hasan Miraz, promoted up the order, fell for 1 to Fernando in the 11.4th over, caught by Thushara at fine leg. At 78/4, Bangladesh needed a spark, and Litton provided it.
He reached his fifty off 39 balls, celebrating with a towering six off Jeffrey Vandersay over long-off. Litton’s 76 off 50 balls, laced with one four and five sixes, was a blend of caution and aggression. His strike rate of 152.00 reflected his ability to dominate both pace and spin, particularly against Maheesh Theekshana, whose carrom balls he dispatched with ease.
Shamim Hossain, coming in at No. 6, turned the tide with an explosive 48 off 27 balls. His knock included five fours and two sixes, and his 77-run fifth-wicket stand with Litton in just 26 balls injected momentum. Shamim’s aggression was evident in the 18th over, where he smashed Vandersay for a four and a six in succession. The duo’s partnership ensured Bangladesh crossed 150 in the 18th over, setting the stage for a big finish. However, Theekshana dismissed Litton in the 18.1th over, caught by Thushara at long-on, ending his 80-minute vigil.
The final overs saw Bangladesh lose momentum briefly. Jaker Ali, back from injury, scored 3 off 2 before being run out in the 19.3rd over, followed by Shamim’s run-out for 48 in the next ball, both due to sharp work by Kusal Mendis behind the stumps. Mohammad Saifuddin chipped in with an unbeaten 6 off 2, including a boundary, as Bangladesh finished at 177/7. Extras contributed 7 runs (1 bye, 4 leg-byes, 2 wides).
Binura Fernando was Sri Lanka’s standout bowler, finishing with 3/31 in 4 overs, his early strikes and disciplined lengths keeping Bangladesh in check. Thushara (1/30) and Theekshana (1/30) were economical but lacked penetration in the death overs. Vandersay (0/40) and Shanaka (0/23) were expensive, leaking runs as Shamim and Litton accelerated. Bangladesh’s run rate of 8.85, with 62 runs in the last five overs, reflected their late surge, setting a challenging target on a pitch that was expected to assist spinners later.
Chasing 178 to seal the series, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack, folding for just 94 in 15.2 overs. The hosts, who had chased down a similar target with ease in the first T20I, were outplayed by a fiery Bangladesh unit led by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and pacers Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin. Pathum Nissanka’s lone resistance was not enough, as Sri Lanka suffered an 83-run defeat, levelling the series at 1-1.
The chase began with a promise but unravelled quickly. Kusal Mendis, aggressive from the start, scored 8 off 5 balls, including two fours, but was run out in the 1.5th over due to a direct hit from Shamim Hossain. Shoriful Islam then struck a double blow, dismissing Kusal Perera for a four-ball duck, caught by Rishad Hossain at point, and Avishka Fernando for 2, caught by Shamim at cover. At 25/3 after 4.1 overs, Sri Lanka were reeling. The powerplay, which yielded just 37 runs for 4 wickets, set the tone for their collapse.
Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s most consistent batter, fought valiantly, scoring 32 off 29 balls with two fours and a six. His 50-minute stay included a crisp cover drive off Mustafizur Rahman and a lofted six off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. However, he found no support. Captain Charith Asalanka’s brief 5 off 5 ended in the 5.1st over, caught by Litton Das off Saifuddin after a successful DRS review by Bangladesh. At 30/4, Sri Lanka’s hopes rested heavily on Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka.
The pair added 41 runs for the fifth wicket, with Shanaka scoring 20 off 16 balls, including two fours. His aggressive intent, particularly against Mehidy, briefly raised hopes, but the required rate was climbing. The turning point came in the 10th over when Rishad Hossain, Bangladesh’s leg-spinner, struck twice. He first dismissed Nissanka, stumped by Litton Das for 32 after a clever leg-break drew him out. Two balls later, Chamika Karunaratne fell for a duck, caught and bowled by Rishad, leaving Sri Lanka at 71/6.
The collapse continued as Mehidy dismissed Shanaka in the 11.1st over, caught by Tanzid Hasan at long-on. At 73/7, Sri Lanka’s chances were all but gone. Jeffrey Vandersay tried to counterattack, hitting a six off Saifuddin, but his 8 off 6 ended when Mustafizur caught him at short fine leg. Mustafizur then removed Maheesh Theekshana for 6, caught behind, as Sri Lanka slipped to 93/9 in the 15th over. Rishad sealed the victory in the 15.2nd over, stumping Binura Fernando for 6, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 94.
Rishad Hossain was the standout, finishing with 3/18 in 3.2 overs, his variations outfoxing Sri Lanka’s batters. Shoriful Islam’s 2/12 in 3 overs, including early wickets, set the tone, while Saifuddin’s 2/21 provided crucial breakthroughs. Mustafizur (1/14) and Mehidy (1/26) ensured no respite, with Bangladesh’s bowlers maintaining a tight grip. Extras contributed 7 runs (3 leg-byes, 4 wides).
Sri Lanka’s run rate of 6.13 was far below the required 8.90, reflecting their inability to counter Bangladesh’s varied attack. The hosts’ middle order, so reliable in the first T20I, faltered, with no batter except Nissanka crossing 20. The pitch, which offered turn and grip, favoured Bangladesh’s spinners, particularly Rishad, whose three wickets in 10 balls broke Sri Lanka’s back.
In the 11th over of Sri Lanka’s chase during the second T20I against Bangladesh at Dambulla on July 13, 2025, a pivotal moment unfolded, earning TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. Chasing 178, Sri Lanka were already struggling at 71/4 when leg-spinner Rishad Hossain turned the screws. The over began with Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s top-scorer, drilling a full toss for four, taking the score to 73/4. However, Rishad struck gold on the next ball, deceiving Nissanka (32 off 29) with a slowed-up legbreak.
Nissanka, lunging forward, missed the ball, and Litton Das whipped off the bails for a stumping, leaving Sri Lanka at 73/5. Two balls later, Rishad dismissed Chamika Karunaratne for a duck, who offered a simple return catch off a slider, misjudging the lack of turn and this double-wicket over, conceding just six runs, saw Sri Lanka slump to 73/6, with a required run rate of 11.66 and 105 runs needed off 54 balls. Rishad’s 2/14 in this over shifted the momentum decisively, exposing Sri Lanka’s tail and sealing their fate. The hosts collapsed to 94 all out, handing Bangladesh an 83-run victory.
For his amazing performance, Litton Das was named TCNI’s Hero of the Day in the second T20I against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on July 13, 2025 and leading Bangladesh after a shaky start at 7/2, the captain played a match-defining knock of 76 runs off 50 balls, steering his team to a competitive 177/7. His innings, with a strike rate of 152.00, included one four and five sixes, showcasing his flair against both pace and spin.
Litton’s 80-minute stay featured a vital 69-run stand with Towhid Hridoy (31 off 25) to rebuild the innings and a blazing 77-run partnership with Shamim Hossain (48 off 27) to boost the total. His fifty came off 39 balls, highlighted by a lofted six off Jeffrey Vandersay and despite falling to Maheesh Theekshana in the 18th over, caught by Nuwan Thushara, Litton’s knock set the stage for Bangladesh’s 83-run victory.