Bangladesh keeps series alive with 83-run win against Sri Lanka in 2nd T20

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka was skittled for 94 in 15.2 overs as Bangladesh won the second Twenty20 by 83 runs to level the three-match series at 1-1 on Sunday.

It was Bangladesh's second biggest T20 victory by runs.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das scored a 50-ball 76, his first T20 half century after 13 games. He helped to lead Bangladesh to 177-7 in 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl.

In-form batter Kusal Mendis was run out in the second over of Sri Lanka's reply and the hosts slipped to 30-4 inside the powerplay against fast bowler Shoriful Islam (2-12), one of the three changes Bangladesh made after losing the opening game.

Opening batter Pathum Nissanka (32) and Dasun Shanaka (20) were the only batters to cross the double-figure mark before Sri Lanka was bowled out with more than four overs to spare.

All five Bangladesh bowlers were among the wickets. Legspinner Rishad Hossain (3-18) finished off the match by having No. 10 batter Binura Fernando stumped.

Nissanka was also stumped by Das off Hossain which ended the 41-ball partnership for the fifth wicket, and in the same 11th over Hossain caught and bowled Chamika Karunaratne (0) to leave Sri Lanka on 71-6.

Shanaka holed out at deep mid-wicket in the 12th over against off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz before Bangladesh wrapped up the tailenders quickly.

Das followed his half century with two stumpings and two catches.

Sri Lanka won the T20 opener by seven wickets with an over to spare on Thursday.

The final T20 match is on Wednesday at Colombo.

Sri Lanka won a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh 2-1 as well as a two-match test series 1-0.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Bangladesh's Rishad Hossain bowls a delivery during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis hits a boundary during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's Mohammad Saifuddin successfully dives into his crease as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis removes the bails during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's Shamim Hossain plays a shot during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Bangladesh's Litton Das plays a shot during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — It was Georgia's day at the European figure skating championships Thursday.

Skaters representing the former Soviet nation won the pairs gold medal and took the lead in the men's event at the championships, a key warmup for next month's Winter Olympics.

Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava recovered from a fall to win their first European title after silver in 2024 and bronze last year.

The Georgians had the lead from Wednesday's short program and, even though Metelkina fell on a triple toeloop, the rest of their free skate was strong to score 139.80 for a total 215.76.

The two skaters laid on their backs on the ice in relief after finishing their free skate, as Berulava pumped his fists and made a snow angel gesture.

The title defense of Germany's Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin ended with an erratic free skate. Hase fell on a throw triple loop and tumbled to the ice again when Volodin tried to lower her down from their final lift.

Hase seemed in pain as she waited for the scores, and then stunned to see that she and Volodin had scored enough to stay ahead overall of third-place Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko of Hungary, 203.87 to 202.56.

Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze edged ahead of two Estonian brothers to take the lead in the men's short program.

Egadze scored 91.28 points for the lead after starting his program with a bang, following up a quadruple salchow-triple toeloop combination with a quad toeloop.

That was enough to beat last year's silver medalist Aleksandr Selevko on 88.71 and his younger brother Mihhail on 88.28. Defending champion Lukas Britschgi was sixth for Switzerland.

Estonia is on track for more medals as Niina Petrokina leads the women's event ahead of Friday's free skate.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics

Estonia's Aleksandr Selevko competes during the Men's Short Program on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, Thursday, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Georgia's Nika Egadze competes during the Men's Short Program on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, Thursday, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin compete during the Pairs Free Skating on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, England, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava compete during the Pairs Free Skating on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, England, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava compete during the Pairs Free Skating on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, England, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)