Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto showcased a return to form when it was most crucial for his team. With Bangladesh aiming to keep their hopes alive in the three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka following a loss in the first game, Shanto's resilient knock of 53 not out off 38 balls played a pivotal role in securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory.
Shanto's recent form had been a cause for concern, especially after a lackluster performance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) where he managed only 175 runs at an average of 14.58 and a strike rate of 93.58. His struggles were evident as he even failed to hit a single six in the tournament, culminating in a disappointing highest score of 39.
In the first match of the series, Shanto's contribution of 20 runs off 22 balls further heightened concerns about his form. However, he remained determined to bounce back strongly, and his match-winning innings in the crucial encounter against Sri Lanka reflected his determination.
Despite his individual success, Shanto remained humble and credited his teammates for the victory, emphasizing the collective effort that led to the team's success. He highlighted the strong performance of the bowlers and praised the batting efforts of Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, and Towhid Hridoy.
Sri Lanka's stand-in captain, Charith Asalanka, acknowledged that his team fell short by 20-25 runs, attributing their defeat partly to Kamindu Mendis's run-out. He emphasized the importance of batsmen making big runs in challenging conditions and credited Bangladesh's batsmen, particularly Shanto, Hridoy, and Liton, for their impressive performances.
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