Samarawickrama, Dilhari shine as Sri Lanka clinch T20I series

In the second Twenty20 International at Sylhet, Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh to win the series and clinch the series. Harshitha Samarawickrama scored an unbeaten 49 runs off just 29 deliveries. The visitors, riding on Samarawickrama's flourish at the end, posted 154 and ran home comfortable victors by 21 runs. When Sri Lanka was asked to bat, they put together a big score thanks to a composed top-order effort and a strong finishing kick. Sri Lanka got off to a sedate start with Hasini Perera falling cheaply to Fariha Trisna. Imesha Dulani and Captain Chamari Athapaththu then put together a steady 44-run stand before Imesha Dulani was out for a 25-ball 27. Athapaththu shared another short stand with Samarawickrama before the captain fell for a 37-ball 42. At that stage, Sri Lanka were 93 for 3 in the 14th over and in need of a flourish to finish strongly. Samarawickrama produced just that as she struck four fours and a pair of sixes. With a solid 22 off her own, Nilakshika Silva joined her in a 61-run stand to raise the score above par. Despite Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous' rather brisk 46-run opening partnership, Bangladesh never quite managed to keep up with the asking rate. Once both batters fell after failing to convert their respective starts, the run rate dipped and Sri Lanka's spinners were able to squeeze the chase in the middle overs. Despite Sharmin Akhter's determined 44 off 47 balls and 2 for 15 from Kavisha Dilhari, Bangladesh were well short of their target.