Sri Lanka secured a five-wicket victory in the 2023 Asia Cup match between the home side and Bangladesh, following Pakistan’s triumph over Nepal. The defending Asia Cup champions played without star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and some fast bowlers due to injuries. Bangladesh, who had to bat first, struggled to form partnerships.
Matheesha Pathirana, the most effective SL bowler, became the country’s youngest player to take four wickets in an ODI. On 15/2, Sri Lanka’s response met with trouble. After that, everything went smoothly as Charith Asalanka (62* off 92) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (54 off 77) combined for a 78-run fourth-wicket partnership to all but end the game.
Asia Cup: SL wins by five wickets thanks to the bowlers
The bowling of Shanaka and company was impressive as they dismissed Bangladesh for just 164 runs and finished with 165/5 in 39 overs to earn two points.
Host Defeated Bangladesh in Pallekele
The subsequent game of the 2023 Asia Cup, between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Pallekele on Thursday, became an exceedingly competitive affair as the home side finished a five-wicket victory. It follows Pakistan’s triumph over Nepal in the tournament’s opening match.
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SL played the game without some of their mainstream players
The defending Asia Cup champions, Sri Lanka, entered their contest against Bangladesh without star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and a few of their preferred fast bowlers who were out due to injuries. Sri Lanka qualified for the forthcoming ODI World Cup through the qualifiers.
SL secured a five-wicket victory
However, Bangladesh got out for just 164 runs by Dasun Shanaka and company, who then finished with 165/5 in 39 overs to secure the two points.
Bangladesh elected to bat first
Bangladesh chose to bat first in the humid conditions, but they had trouble forming partnerships the entire time. As the third batsman, Najmul Hossain Shanto held his ground and amassed 89 runs off 122 balls, but the rest of the batting line-up failed.
In an unremarkable batting display by the visitors, who lost their final six wickets for just 37 runs, Towhid Hridoy, batting at No. 5, was the second-highest scorer with 20 runs.
Matheesha Pathirana was incredible with the bowl
The most effective bowler was the right-arm pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who performed well for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He finished with figures of 4/32 from 7.4 overs. The 20-year-old made cricket history by becoming the country’s (SL) youngest player to take four wickets in an ODI.
Sri Lanka’s innings
In response, Sri Lanka ran into trouble at 15/2 and 43/3 after dismissals from Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Pathum Nissanka by Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam, respectively.
But after that, things went smoothly as Sadeera Samarawickrama (54 off 77) and Charith Asalanka (62* off 92) put together a 78-run fourth-wicket partnership to all but end the game.
Samarawickrama reached his fourth ODI half-century during his innings, smashing six boundaries. In the 30th over, Mahedi Hasan stumped the right-hander, and 11 balls later, Shakib dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva. It was still only a tiny Bangladeshi comeback.
With five boundaries and a six, Asalanka calmly completed his ninth ODI fifty, and Sri Lanka’s skipper Shanaka turned out unbeaten on 14 off 21 as the team secured the victory.
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