Dambulla, July 13, 2025 — Bangladesh staged a thunderous comeback in the second T20I of their tour, thrashing Sri Lanka by a mammoth 83 runs at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
This emphatic win not only levels the three-match T20I series 1-1 but also sets the stage for a thrilling series decider in Colombo on July 16.
Batting first, Bangladesh put on a commanding show. Captain Litton Das led from the front with a sensational 76-run knock, anchoring the innings with calm precision and aggressive strokeplay. His partnerships with Shamim Hossain and Tawhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh post a challenging total of 177/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Shamim’s explosive cameo and a solid contribution from Tawhid added vital momentum to the innings.
Sri Lanka’s chase began in chaos. They were rocked early, losing four wickets in the Powerplay. The run-out of in-form Kusal Mendis in the second over proved to be a game-changing moment. Skipper Charith Asalanka, along with senior players like Avishka Fernando and Perera, failed to offer resistance, all falling within a devastating 15-ball spell. Pathum Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka showed brief signs of a fightback with a 41-run stand, but once Nissanka departed, the collapse was complete. Sri Lanka folded for a dismal 94 runs in just 15.2 overs.
The Bangladesh bowling unit was clinical. Shoriful Islam set the tone with two early breakthroughs in the Powerplay, while spinners Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took control in the middle overs, grabbing four wickets between them. Mohammad Saifuddin chipped in with two wickets, sealing one of Bangladesh’s most dominant performances in T20I history.
After the match, Litton Das praised his teammates for their resilience, singling out Shamim and Rishad for their match-winning efforts. “We knew we had to bounce back hard, and this was the perfect response,” said the Bangladesh skipper. “The pitch was good, but we had to spend time and capitalize, which we did.”
Asalanka, on the other hand, admitted that Sri Lanka were outplayed in all departments and vowed to bounce back in the final T20I.
With both sides now even, the series heads into the final T20I in Colombo with everything to play for — and Bangladesh, riding high on momentum, look hungry for more.