SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by five wickets and secured a comfortable victory in the Asia Cup 2023 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka wasted no time in making their mark on the match, grabbing an early advantage by claiming three key wickets within the first 10 overs.
Notably, they managed to dismiss Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, adding to the pressure on the batting side. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tawhid Hridoy stepped up to provide some stability, forming a partnership that steadied proceedings. However, Hridoy’s departure after a partnership of 59 runs off 80 balls marked a turning point in the match.
Shanto, displaying his composure and determination, held one end steady as wickets continued to fall on the other side. Despite his efforts, the Bangladeshi batting lineup struggled to maintain momentum.
The match took a decisive turn after the 40th over, when Shanto himself was dismissed after scoring 89 runs off 122 balls. Bangladesh eventually found themselves all out for a total of 164 runs, a below-par score that left them with an uphill battle.
Anticipating rain, Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, factored in weather uncertainties while strategizing for the game. However, the predicted rain only caused a brief interruption in the proceedings, and the clouds largely cleared up, allowing the match to proceed smoothly.
While Bangladesh struggled with the bat, they displayed a commendable performance during Sri Lanka’s innings. Despite maintaining control over the game, Sri Lanka faced a resilient Bangladeshi side that managed to restrict their scoring.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka, however, emerged as the heroes for Sri Lanka, both achieving half-centuries. Samarawickrama’s knock of 54 runs off 77 balls laid a strong foundation, while Asalanka’s unbeaten 62 runs from 92 balls ensured a comfortable victory for Sri Lanka.
Final Score
Bangladesh: 164 all out; Najmul Hossain Shanto 89; Tawhid Hridoy 59.
Sri Lanka’s bowling: M. Pathirana 4/32, M. Theekshana 2/19.
Sri Lanka: 165/5; Sadeera Samarawickrama 54; Charith Asalanka 62*.
Bangladesh’s Bowling: S. Al Hasan 2/29, M. Hasan 1/35.
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