In the second T20 match of the series played between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Silhet Stadium, a major controversy arose over the decision of the third umpire, leading to visible frustration from Sri Lankan players and the assistant coach.
In the second match of the three-match T20 series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka played at the Silhet Stadium, Sri Lankan players and assistant coach Chris Silverwood were visibly upset over a decision made by the third umpire. The match, played at the Silhet Stadium between both teams, ended with Bangladesh securing a victory by 8 wickets, leveling the series 1-1. While Sri Lanka had scored 165 runs in 20 overs batting first, losing 5 wickets, Bangladesh chased down the target in 18.1 overs.
During Bangladesh’s innings, there was controversy surrounding the dismissal of Soumya Sarkar, where the on-field umpire quickly ruled him out. Sarkar immediately reviewed the decision, sending it to the third umpire. Upon review, the third umpire observed a gap between the ball and the bat as it passed Sarkar. However, there was a sound detected on the stump mic at the same time the ball passed the bat. Despite this, the third umpire gave Sarkar a not out decision, sparking frustration among Sri Lankan players who engaged in lengthy discussions with the on-field umpire.
Meanwhile, during this discussion, the assistant coach of the Sri Lankan team also approached the fourth umpire to discuss the decision. When the appeal was made against Soumya Sarkar, he was playing at 14 runs off 10 balls. However, he went on to score 26 runs before returning to the pavilion.
The match saw an outstanding batting performance from Bangladesh, with their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto playing a pivotal role in securing the one-sided victory. Opening batsmen contributed significantly with a partnership of 68 runs for the first wicket, while the team lost its second wicket at 83 runs. From there, Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played an essential innings of 53 unbeaten runs off 38 balls with the help of 4 fours and 2 sixes, playing a crucial role in securing the victory for the team, supported by Mahmudullah Riyad. The decisive match of this series between both teams will be played on March 9th.
