SL vs BAN Asia Cup Match: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by Five Wickets

Sri Lanka emerged triumphant against Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2023 campaign opener at Kandy on Thursday. Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama showcased exceptional batting skills, each scoring a half-century to guide their team to a comfortable five-wicket win.

Chasing a target of 165 set by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka’s innings encountered a rocky start as Dimuth Karunaratne’s early dismissal for 1 was executed by Taskin Ahmed in the third over. Pathum Nissanka’s departure for 14 off Shoriful Islam’s delivery added to the pressure, leaving Sri Lanka at 15/2 in 3.3 overs.

The pairing of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis brought a much-needed stability to Sri Lanka’s innings. However, their partnership of 28 runs was curtailed by skipper Shakib al Hasan, who removed Mendis for 5. Sri Lanka found themselves at 43/3 in 9.2 overs.

As the first powerplay came to a close, Sri Lanka stood at 44/3, with Sadeera (19) and Charith Asalanka (0) at the crease. The team crossed the 50-run mark in 12 overs, setting the stage for a hard-fought battle.

Sadeera and Asalanka adopted an aggressive approach against the Bangladeshi bowlers, with Sadeera leading the charge. Their partnership guided Sri Lanka to the 100-run milestone in 21.5 overs. Sadeera’s gritty performance culminated in a well-deserved half-century, crafted over 59 balls and adorned with six boundaries.

Mahedi Hasan ended Sadeera’s impressive innings at 54 (77 balls) after wicketkeeper Rahim successfully caught the ball. Shakib al Hasan further intensified the contest by dismissing Dhananjaya for a mere two runs, pushing Sri Lanka to 128/5 in 31 overs.

Charith Asalanka’s resilient batting display bore fruit as he achieved his half-century in 85 balls, embellished with four boundaries. A boundary from skipper Dasun Shanaka propelled Sri Lanka to the 150-run mark in 36.5 overs. Asalanka’s winning boundary in the 39th over sealed the deal for Sri Lanka, leading them to a remarkable five-wicket victory.

Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan emerged as the standout bowler, capturing two wickets for 29 runs in his 10 overs. Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Mehedi Hasan each contributed with a wicket.

Earlier in the game, fiery bowling performances from pacer Mateesha Pathirana and spinner Maheesh Theekshana restricted Bangladesh to a total of 164 runs in 42.4 overs. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh faced early setbacks, losing Tanzid Hasan for zero in the second over to Maheesh Theekshana. The troubles continued as Mohammad Naim (16) was removed by Dhananjya de Silva.

Pathirana and Theekshana maintained relentless pressure on the Bangladeshi batting lineup, with Pathirana claiming four crucial wickets for 32 runs in 7.4 overs and Theekshana contributing with 2/19 in eight overs. Dhananjaya, Dunith Wellage, and Dasun Shanaka also chipped in with a wicket each.

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