Sri Lanka secured a series-leveling four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI at Rajshahi courtesy Chamari Athapaththu's fine all-round show. Their talismanic skipper led from the front in the bowling innings, bagging 3 for 36 from her eight overs to restrict the hosts to 165 despite Nigar Sultana's fighting 58. With the bat then, she 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 captain won the toss and elected to bat, but the hosts struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. Malki Madara struck in back-to-back overs within Powerplay to reduce the hosts to 4/2. Nigar then joined hands with Sharmin Sultana to resurrect the batting with a 45-run stand that was, unfortunately, the best of the day for the home side.
Once Sharmin fell, Nigar continued to forge little partnerships but every time Sri Lanka struck back at crucial junctures to never allow them the 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, besides Madara.
In response, Sri Lanka also faced early stutter but remained composed throughout the chase. Skipper Athapaththu fell having made 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 fate of the game.
Nahida, who had earlier claimed Athapththtu's wicket, did strike in successive overs to dent Sri Lanka's charge by taking out both set batters. However, there was little left to do for the visitors. Her impressive spell ended with figures of 4 for 21 but all in vain. The three-match series is now tied at 1-1, with the final ODI set to decide the winner.
@B0$ 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.
