Sri Lanka outshines Bangladesh in thrilling Asia Cup encounter

PALLEKELE: In a closely-contested encounter at the Asia Cup, Bangladesh emerged triumphant against Sri Lanka, securing victory by a margin of 5 wickets.

The match, played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka, witnessed an intriguing battle between the two teams.

Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the decision failed to yield substantial results as the entire Bangladesh team was dismissed for 164 runs in the 43rd over.

In response, the Sri Lankan team demonstrated resilience, chasing down the 165-run target with 5 wickets to spare in 39 overs.

Bangladesh’s batting highlights

Bangladesh’s opening pair, Mohammad Naeem and Tanzid Hasan, initiated the innings. However, Tanzid Hasan’s innings was cut short at just 4 runs, followed by Mohammad Naeem’s departure for a total of 25 runs.

Subsequently, captain Shakib Al Hasan also faced the Sri Lankan bowlers, contributing only 5 runs before returning to the pavilion. Despite their efforts, Najmul Hussain couldn’t provide steadfast support, leading to a succession of wickets falling at regular intervals.

Najmul Hussain’s impressive 89 runs boosted Bangladesh’s total score, while Towhid added 20, Mohammad Naeem contributed 16, and Moshfiqur Rahim scored 13 runs.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers, Mathisha Patirana and Mahesh Theekshana, were instrumental in taking 4 and 2 wickets respectively.

Sri Lanka’s batting highlights

Sadeera Samarawickrama stood out for Sri Lanka with his impressive innings of 54 runs, bolstered by six boundaries.

Other batsmen, including Pathum Nissanka (14), Kusal Mendis (5), Dhananjaya de Silva (2), and Charith Asalanka (1), collectively contributed to Sri Lanka’s total score of 165.

Charith Asalanka’s resilient performance led to an impressive 62 runs, significantly influencing Sri Lanka’s victory. Dushmantha Chameera remained unbeaten with 14 runs.

Rain likely to disrupt Pakistan Vs. India Asia Cup 2023 Match

From Bangladesh’s bowling side, Shakib Al Hasan secured 2 wickets, while Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Mehedi Hasan each claimed one wicket.

This riveting encounter comes on the heels of Pakistan’s victory over Nepal in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2023, played on Wednesday in Multan.

Pakistan emerged victorious with a formidable 238-run total, setting the tone for what promises to be an enthralling tournament.