The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That will be all from this contest but there is plenty of cricketing action lined up as we speak including the WPL and the PSL. Do switch tabs and follow our coverage of it all right here on Sportskeeda. For now though, this is the troika of Bidipto, Pragadeesh and Sooryanarayanan taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning in as we hope you enjoyed our coverage. See you again soon - good night and take care!
A man of few words but Najmul Hossain Shanto is a happy captain. Bangladesh have bounced back in professional fashion today and they will look to ride on this momentum with the decider to be played on Saturday. As for Sri Lanka, they will be disappointed but with a game to go, they will look to take the learnings out of this contest as they look to pull one back themselves and take the series. What a time for them to welcome regular skipper Wanindu Hasaranga back into the mix as well for that contest!
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 53. Here's what he has to say: I think the boys showed a lot of character today. Especially the way we bowled in these conditions. Really happy with how we bowled. I'm not giving any particular bowler credit. All the bowlers bowled really well. Shoriful bowled really well in the BPL too. Litton and Soumya started really well and that helped us later on. I thought Hridoy batted really well. As a batter you look to score every match. I'll look to continue my form.
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka captain): (First thoughts) We were short by 20-25 runs, that was the turning point and Kamindu (Mendis') run out was a crucial one as well. (On the dew setting down in the second innings) These are not easy conditions for bowling and we struggled in them. (On Angelo Mathews' performance) Angelo is a big player, he brings a lot of experience into the team and keeps delivering. (On the batting of Bangladesh) I thought Shanto and Hridoy did really well with the bat, they batted with a lot of responsibility.
It is time for the post-match presentation!
Match summary: Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets to level the series 1-1.
You always felt 165 was not going to be enough with the amount of dew that was expected to fall in. Sri Lanka found out the same the hard way as their bowlers, despite trying their best, just weren't able to put the batters under pressure with Bangladesh getting the job done in a canter really.
The openers began with a bang but controversy erupted once Soumya Sarkar, who was adjudged caught behind, was handed a lifeline by the third umpire, who for some reason thought that there was no bat on ball. Charith Asalanka was clearly miffed and was constantly in the ears of the on-field umpires after that with his team not taking to the decision kindly either. The frustration clearly showed though as the visitors went off the boil, even as Sarkar and Litton Das made full use of the powerplay.
Matheesha Pathirana then banged one into the pitch to get rid of Sarkar before he got rid of Das as well to give Sri Lanka hope. But with the hosts well ahead of the eight-ball curve, it meant that skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy could take some time to stabilize the innings. They did so while running the singles regularly and finding the gaps, even if there was the odd moment of chaos as far as their calling between the wickets was concerned.
Pathirana was really the last roll of the dice for Sri Lanka but he ended up hobbling off the field clutching his left hamstring. It summed up a tough outing for the Sri Lankans with Bangladesh enjoying their time out in the middle. Dew only eased their job and in the end, they cruised home with Hridoy and Shanto making their presence felt with a superb partnership and the latter sealing things with a massive six that also raised his half-century. Stick around for the presentation...
And that's some way to finish things off alright! Euphoria in the stands and this has been one heck of a chase by the hosts. Bangladesh romp home by 8 wickets with 11 deliveries to spare!
18.1 Dasun Shanaka to Najmul Hossain Shanto, SIX RUNS! FIFTY FOR SHANTO! AND A WIN TO BANGLADESH TO TAKE THE SERIES INTO A DECIDER! Length ball on leg-and-middle. Shanto stayed on the back foot and whipped it well over deep backward square-leg by getting under it and sent it into the tea gardens out there!
Now that is a shot and a half alright! Hridoy doesn't want to be left behind here and Bangladesh are nearly home. Just one hit away and Shanto will look to seal this in style, you'd think. Bangladesh require 2 runs to win off 12 deliveries at 1.00 RPO.
18
overs
164/2score
1
1
1
1
1wd
1lb
6
runs
Towhid Hridoy*
32(25)
Najmul Hossain Shanto
47(37)
Maheesh Theekshana
0/35
17.6 Maheesh Theekshana to Towhid Hridoy, SIX RUNS! Back of a length around off-stump. Hridoy brings out that trademark slap of his on the back foot and clears deep mid-wicket comfortably!
17.5 Maheesh Theekshana to Najmul Hossain Shanto, short and flat down the leg-side here. A leg-bye to short fine-leg off the back foot as Shanto misses the pull shot.
17.5 Maheesh Theekshana to Najmul Hossain Shanto, short, flat and WIDE down the leg-side here! Good take by Kusal Mendis to his right!
17.4 Maheesh Theekshana to Towhid Hridoy, really full on off-and-middle. Knocked down to long-on from deep in the crease for a single.
Seems like the ball has gone out of shape. We saw this in the last game too and the fourth umpire runs out with a fresh case.
17.3 Maheesh Theekshana to Najmul Hossain Shanto, full and wide outside off-stump. Driven away to wide long-off off the front foot for a single to rotate strike.
17.2 Maheesh Theekshana to Towhid Hridoy, over the wicket, good length flatter ball down the leg-side. Slog-swept to the long-leg region for a single only.
17.1 Maheesh Theekshana to Najmul Hossain Shanto, round the wicket, short on off-and-middle. Punched down to wide long-on off the back foot for a single.
Maheesh Theekshana [3.0-0-24-0] is back into the attack
Shanto is playing a captain's innings here. He certainly deserves a fifty and would love to remain unbeaten as well for good measure. Bangladesh require 14 runs to win off 18 deliveries at 4.67 RPO.