Bangladesh's second ODI against Sri Lanka abandoned

The second ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was called off due to incessant rain at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium today. The third game to be held at the SSC Ground in Colombo on April 1 will act as the decider of the three-match series, which Bangladesh are leading 1-0 after their impressive 90-run win at Dambulla on Saturday. The result now means Bangladesh can't lose the series from here.

Earlier, 20 minutes after a Taskin Ahmed hattrick closed out the Sri Lanka innings on 311 in 50 overs, the heavens over the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium opened up and quite heavy rainfall caused the groundsmen to rush onto the ground with the covers.

Most of the playing area was under covers. It was is still raining quite heavily in Dambulla, known as one of the drier areas of Sri Lanka. According to a local reporter, it takes around an hour to get the huge covers off after it stops raining, so there will be a delayed finish at the very least and reduced overs are likely. 

While no official announcement has been made, as per the scorer's calculations, overs will start being cut from 7:53pm local time (8:23pm Bangladesh time).

There is no reserve day for this match. 

The cut-off time for play to start is 10:00pm local time (10:30pm Bangladesh time)

Earlier, a hattrick in the last over by Taskin Ahmed enabled Bangladesh to restrict Sri Lanka to 311 after 49.5 overs in the second ODI of the 3-match series.

On a flat pitch at Dambulla, Taskin bowled his heart out and took four wickets for 47 in 8.5 overs. Mashrafe Mortaza, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman took a wicket each.

Kusal Mendis held the Sri Lankan innings together with his 102 from 107 balls. Upul Tharanga contributed with 65 from 76. The second and third wicket stands of 111 and 83 gave the hosts the platform to cross 300 in the end.

Taskin got his hat-trick…what a way to conclude the last over…absolutely brilliant from the Tigers pacer!

The yorker was too good for the Sri Lankan bowler, and Nuwan knew he was out as he missed the ball.

Last bat N Pradeep b Taskin Ahmed 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Fall of wicket 311/10 (49.5 ov); Partnership: 0 runs, 0.1 overs, RR: 0.00 (Kulasekara 0, Pradeep 0)

Taskin is on a hat-trick. Full-toss on middle, Lakmal struck it in the air, midwicket dived full-length to his left and grabbed a smart catch

Last bat RAS Lakmal c Mustafizur Rahman b Taskin Ahmed 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Asela Gunaratne was the eighth wicket to fall for the hosts when he was dismissed in the last over

Last bat DAS Gunaratne c Soumya Sarkar b Taskin Ahmed 39 (28b 4x4 1x6) SR: 139.28

Dilruwan Perera was the seventh wicket to fall for Sri Lanka when he was run-out in the 49th over.

Last bat MDK Perera run out 9 (8b 1x4 0x6) SR: 112.50

Fall of wicket 300/7 (48.2 ov); Partnership: 20 runs, 1.4 overs, RR: 12.00 (MDK Perera 9, Gunaratne 7)

Thisara Perera was the sixth wicket to fall for Sri Lanka when he was run-out for 9 to leave the hosts at 280 for 6 after 46.4 overs.

Thisara couldn’t put bat on ball. The ball grazed the pad and rolled behind to the keeper. Thisara probably thought it had passed the keeper and strayed out of the crease, looking to get to the other end. Mushfiq, removed his right glove, hunted the ball down, and his over-arm throw did the trick!

Last bat NLTC Perera run out 9 (6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150.00

Fall of wicket 280/6 (46.4 ov); Partnership: 9 runs, 1.0 overs, RR: 9.00 (NLTC Perera 9, Gunaratne 0)

Mehedi Hasan Miraz gave Bangladesh their fifth wicket late in the innings when he sent back Milinda Siriwardana for 30 to leave Sri Lanka at 271 for 5 after 45.4 overs.

Having dropped Siriwardana in the last over, Mehedi got his man. This was a straight ball from the offie…Milinda went for a big slog-sweep and didn’t make contact.

Last bat TAM Siriwardana b Mehedi Hasan Miraz 30 (30b 3x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

Fall of wicket 271/5 (45.4 ov); Partnership: 55 runs, 8.0 overs, RR: 6.87 (Siriwardana 30, Gunaratne 21)

Earlier, Bangladesh got their fourth wicket to peg back the hosts late in their innings when Taskin Ahmen sent back Kusal Mendis for 102 to leave Sri Lanka at 216 for 4 after 37.4 overs.

Another one bites the dust…and Kusal goes after a good knock.

Kusal backed away and smashed the ball towards the bowler. The ball struck Taskin on the left shoulder, popped up and the bowler had enough time to run back and complete the catch.

Last bat BKG Mendis c & b Taskin Ahmed 102 (107b 9x4 1x6) SR: 95.32

Fall of wicket 216/4 (37.4 ov); Partnership: 4 runs, 1.0 overs, RR: 4.00 (Gunaratne 3, Mendis 1)

Mustafizur Rahman gave Bangladesh their third wicket when he dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for 24 to leave Sri Lanka at 212 for 3 after 36.4 overs.

Fizz comes back after being hammered in his first spell, and gets the breakthrough…Dinesh out!

The appeal was a very strong one from the bowler and keeper. It was a length ball coming in from wide of the crease, the Sri Lankan batter walked across the stumps to help it over short fine but was struck in front of the stumps. Sri Lanka’s review proved futile in the end.

Last bat LD Chandimal lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 24 (30b 1x4 0x6) SR: 80.00

Fall of wicket 212/3 (36.4 ov); Partnership: 83 runs, 12.1 overs, RR: 6.82 (Chandimal 24, Mendis 59)

Bangladesh got their second wicket when Upul Tharanga was run-out against the run of play to leave the hosts at 129 for 2 after 24.3 overs.

No ball…a run-out and Bangladesh stop the Upul-Kusal stand…big wicket for the Tigers!

Head high full toss from Mustafizur, a beamer, leg umpire called it a no-ball, the batsmen took off for a single after the misfield, and the direct hit from Mahmudullah Riyad did the trick.

Last bat WU Tharanga run out 65 (76b 9x4 0x6) SR: 85.52

Fall of wicket 129/2 (24.3 ov); Partnership: 111 runs, 22.0 overs, RR: 5.04 (Tharanga 60, Mendis 42)

The second wicket partnership of over hundred between Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis took Sri Lanka to a commanding position as the hosts reached 120 for 1 after 24 overs.

When Sri Lanka were 120 for 1 after 24 overs, the Upul-Kusal stand reached 102 runs in 21.3 overs. Upul was batting on 57 while Kusal was 42 not out. Sri Lanka stand-in skipper Upul reached his fifty in the 23rd over.

Earlier, Bangladesh got their first breakthrough in the third over when Mashrafe Mortaza dismissed Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka to leave the hosts at 18 for 1.

A brilliant running catch from Mushfiqur Rahim…and Mashrafe strikes the first blow.

The batter pulled the slower cutter going away outside off, and the top edge went miles up in the air. Three men followed the swirling ball on the leg side. Mushfiq with the gloves called for it, ran after the ball, tumbled but pouched the ball safely.

Last bat MD Gunathilaka c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 9 (11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 81.81

Fall of wicket 18/1 (2.3 ov); Partnership: 18 runs, 2.3 overs, RR: 7.20 (Tharanga 5, Gunathilaka 9)

Sri Lanka stand-in captain Upul Tharanga won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh.

Tharanga who is playing his 200th ODI today is leading a side in their must-win match after the 90-run loss on 25 March. On the other hand, Bangladesh have a rare shot at glory, a bilateral ODI series win away from home.

Without engaging in hyperbole, it can be said that Bangladesh have put in their best performance since returning to cricket last September-October with the Afghanistan and England ODIs.

But even in those two series -- won 2-1 against Afghanistan and lost by the same margin against England -- there was much to be desired from Bangladesh's performances such as capitalising on top-order starts, finishing their innings strongly and taking every chance on the field. 

All those problems seemed to have been solved in the first ODI.

“There's a chance [to clinch the series today], but for that we have to play the way we played the first match,” Mashrafe said at the pre-match press conference yesterday. “They [Sri Lanka] will try very hard too, since they are 1-0 behind. They will try to push us from the start. They know how to play aggressive cricket.”

There was also a greenish tinge on the pitch at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium less than 24 hours before the match was to start.

“We have included Nuwan Kulasekera and Nuwan Pradeep into the squad; the main reason was Suranga Lakmal's fitness [after he injured his hand while fielding in the first ODI on Saturday],” Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha said yesterday.”It can take 24-48 hours and we didn't want someone to come in tomorrow [Tuesday] morning. We thought to get two people in so that we have more options to look at. Up till yesterday we were not sure whether Lakmal will play but he has recovered and was okay today.”

Sri Lanka had also played with three pacers in the first ODI, with Lahiru Kumara sharing the new ball with Lakmal and all-rounder Thisara Perera performing the first-change role.