DHAKA, July 13, 2025 (BSS) — Bangladesh roared back in emphatic fashion to level the three-match T20 International series, after consigning Sri Lanka to a record-83-run defeat in the second match at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium today.

The 83-run victory against Sri Lanka is their largest ever against a Test playing nation, overtaking 80-run victory over West Indies in 2024. Their largest victory, an 84-run win, however, came against Papua New Guinea in 2021.

Bangladesh put up a sizzling bowling effort to wrap up Sri Lanka for just 94 runs in 15.2 overs after setting a them a challenging 178-run target.

Legspinner Rishad Hossain delivered his career-best 3-18 in 3.2 overs to script the famous victory that was badly needed at a moment when the country’s cricket looked to hit at lowest ebb.

But it was captain Liton Das who laid the platform of the victory.  Liton hit back to form with a scintillating 50 ball-76 as Bangladesh posted a respectable 177-7, a total that looked intimidating in this kind of wicket.  

Bangladesh suffered a seven-wicket defeat in their first match, making it a ‘do or die’ contest for them. 

Shamim Patwari made 26 ball-48 and Towhid Hridoy added 31 to help Liton in setting the good target for Sri Lanka after a limping start that saw them reduced to seven for two in two overs.

Nuwan Thushara rattled the stump of Parvez Hossain Emon for duck in the third ball of the innings after Sri Lanka sent Bangladesh into bat first.

Binura Fernando who registered his career-best 3-31 in four overs, got into the act in the second over, having dismissed Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 5.

Liton and Hridoy then steadied the ship with the captain particularly in supreme touch, keeping the Lankan bowlers at bay.

They added 69-run for the third wicket before Fernando baffled Hridoy with a cutter. Three balls later, he struck again to get the better of  Mehidy Hasan  Miraz for 1 as Bangladesh further slumped to 78-4 in 12th over.

As it looked they would crumble under pressure again, Patwari joined Liton to help the side gain the momentum.

Their plan to counterattack instead of going for cautious approach after losing some wickets in quick succession paid the rich dividends.

Liton, however, reached his 12th T20 fifty, by hitting Maheesh Theekshana a six over the long-off. He then went for further carnage before Theekshana removed him after he struck one four and five sixes in his innings.

Shamim Patwari then drove the side closer to 180-run mark but fell two runs short of his fifty after being trapped run out in the last over.

Sri Lanka’s chase had never taken off after the run out dismissal of Kusal Mendis (8) who tormented Bangladesh in the first game with 51 ball-73. Another tormentor Pathum Nissanka made team-best 32 but played 29 balls. He played a marauding 16 ball-42 in the first match to take the game away from Bangladesh. 

Shoriful Islam vindicated his selection in this match, returning figures of 2-12 in three overs as he ripped through Sri Lanka’s to order, having dismissed Kusal Perera for duck and Avishka Fernando for 2.

Mohammad Saifuddin, the other new ball bowler, also did his part well with 2-21 as he strangled Sri Lanka’s middle order before Rishad had Nissanka stumped to virtually kill the game.

Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka kept the hopes alive with 41-run partnership after Sri Lanka were reduced to 30-4.

However Shanaka was the only other batter to reach double digits, making 20. Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed him for lone wicket in the match.

The series-deciding third game is on Wednesday in Colombo.