Tigers clinch Sri Lanka

Bangladesh secured a thrilling 16-run win against Sri Lanka in the second ODI, leveling the series 1-1. Alongside this crucial win, the Tigers, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto, also received good news from the ICC—an improvement in their ODI ranking. With the addition of 2 rating points, Bangladesh has climbed to 9th place in the ICC ODI rankings with 78 points, up from their previous 10th position.

In the match held at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, Bangladesh set a challenging total of 248 runs, thanks to superb half-centuries from Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon. Defending the total, Tanvir Islam delivered a career-best performance with a five-wicket haul, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shamim Hossain kept things tight with disciplined bowling. As a result, the hosts fell short by 16 runs.

This win not only helped Bangladesh bounce back in the series but also had a positive impact on their ICC ranking. In the ICC’s annual update this May, Bangladesh had dropped to 10th place with 76 points, having won just one out of eight matches, losing 4 valuable rating points. According to the ICC’s ranking methodology, 100% of results from the past 12 months and 50% from the previous two years are considered. The recent win added 2 points, pushing Bangladesh up to 9th, while West Indies dropped down to 10th.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s rating points dropped to 102, causing them to slip one spot to 5th place. This reshuffling indirectly benefited Pakistan, who managed to retain their position in the top five.

India currently holds the top position in the ICC ODI rankings, followed by New Zealand in second and Australia in third.

Cricket fans are now eagerly anticipating the third and final match of the ODI series. A win in the final game could further boost Bangladesh’s rating points and strengthen their ranking position—a hope shared by many supporters.