Tanvir’s Five-For Ends Bangladesh’s Losing Streak, Levels ODI Series Against Sri Lanka

Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam produced a match-winning five-wicket haul as Bangladesh edged out Sri Lanka by 16 runs in the second ODI in Colombo, breaking an eight-match losing streak in the format and leveling the three-match series 1-1.

Playing only his second ODI, Tanvir returned figures of 5 for 39 — a performance that turned the tide after Bangladesh posted a modest 248. The 28-year-old, who was drafted into the XI due to a last-minute illness to Rishad Hossain, admitted that support from captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and a return to his original bowling action helped him rediscover his rhythm.

“When I conceded 22 runs in my first two overs, the captain stood next to me and said, ‘You don’t have to bowl defensively — bowl to take wickets.’ That motivated me,” Tanvir said. Inspired, he adjusted his line and began attacking the stumps, picking up key wickets including Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis in quick succession. The dismissal of Mendis via DRS proved to be a major turning point as Sri Lanka’s scoring rate slowed considerably.

Tanvir revealed he had experimented with a new bowling action earlier this year during the T20I series against UAE and Pakistan but struggled with results and confidence. After consulting teammate Towhid Hridoy, he reverted to his original action — a decision that paid off handsomely.

“I never played age-level cricket; I came up through the Dhaka league system. I believed performance was key. I kept trying, and finally Allah has smiled at me. I have a five-wicket haul at the international level,” Tanvir said.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz lauded Tanvir's contribution along with performances from Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Naim Sheikh (Emon), and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Shamim’s economical nine-over spell and handy lower-order runs proved vital, while Tanzim’s late-innings hitting against Hasaranga gave Bangladesh critical breathing room.

“Every time the momentum shifted, someone stepped up,” said Mehidy. “Tanvir’s breakthroughs were crucial. Shamim gave us control with the ball and batted beautifully. Emon provided a quick start, and Tanzim’s batting helped us push the total to 248 — which made a big difference compared to 220.”

Despite the victory, Mehidy remained cautious, pointing to several issues that need attention ahead of the series decider. Bangladesh failed to bat their full 50 overs for the second consecutive match, suffered two costly run-outs, and dropped four catches in the field.

“We’ve won, but there are still areas to improve,” Mehidy added. “We need to bat deeper and avoid collapses. Fielding lapses also need fixing. Hopefully, we will put it all together in the third ODI.”

With the series now level, the third and final match promises to be a high-stakes contest as both teams look to build momentum ahead of future assignments.