After opting to bowl first, Bangladesh restricted Sri Lanka’s score to 168-7. The ex-skipper Dasun Shanaka smashed an unbeaten knock of 64 runs in 37 balls and struck 3 fours and 6 humongous sixes. Not many know that Dasun Shanaka was the one under whom Sri Lanka won Asia Cup 2022 under his leadership.
Bangladesh would be slightly disappointed as the target of 170 is a challenging one. Bangladesh’s skipper Litton Das marshaled his troops smartly. The surface was quite drier where Mahedi Hasan (*come in the team in place of Risahd) took a 2 wicket haul and conceded only 25 runs in his 4-over spell.
Carnage by Kusal Mendis & Pathum Nissanka in power-play overs
The duo of Kusal Mendis & Pathum Nissanka didn’t waste time before unleashing an attack on the opposition. Coming into the Super 4 stage, Sri Lanka was the only side in Group B that was unbeaten. At the end of 4 overs, Sri Lanka’s score was 36-0 and the ball was coming nicely on the team.
Taskin Ahmed was introduced in the 5th over; on the last ball of ov, Nissanka tried to flick the shot to deep square leg, but he miscued it to deep mid-wicket. Pathum Nissanka’s half-hearted start gave Sri Lanka a positive start, but another 20-30 runs from his bat would have deepened the agony for Sri Lanka. At the end of 6 overs, Sri Lanka managed to put on 53 runs for the loss of 1 wicket.
Bangladesh made a resounding comeback in the middle overs
Mahedi Hasan got the bumper wicket of Kusal Mendis in the 8th over. During the fourth ball of the 8th over, Kusal Mendis was enticed to play a sweep shot, which he couldn’t connect properly, as the fielder at deep square leg took a stunning catch. Kusal Mendis’ wicket changed the complexion of the match which was looking ominous, as his dismissal dented Bangladesh’s batting performance. Kusal was sent back to the pavilion after scoring 34 runs in 25 balls, in which he hit 1 four and 3 sixes.
Sri Lanka’s score was 60-2 in 8 overs. The Bangladeshi Tigers were slowly making rapid progress in the game. Mahedi Hasan’s magic continued as even in the 10th over, he grabbed a wicket. Mahedi knocked over Kamil Mishara’s stumps & all of a sudden, Sri Lanka’s score was 65-3 as Kamil’s reverse sweep shot was absolutely wrong at that time.
Kusal Perera & Dasun Shanaka slowly & steadily got the innings back on track. Mahedi Hasan’s selection paid dividends for Bangladesh as in his 4-over spell, he took 2 scalps & conceded 25 runs. Mustafizur Rahman broke the threatening partnership between Dasun Shanaka & Kusal Perera. Kusal Perera played a cut shot but got an edge to the wicket-keeper and was sent back to the pavilion.
Sri Lanka’s score was 98-4 in 14 overs. The oddball was keeping low as the surface was quite a tricky one. Nasum Ahmed, in his last over (i.e., 15th over) was blown away by Dasun Shanaka, where the batter scored 2 sixes and 1 four, and Sri Lanka’s score was 115-4 in 15 overs.
Dasun Shanaka unleashes an attack in the death overs
Skipper Charith Asalanka was in a no-mercy mode from the very beginning. Sri Lanka’s score at the end of 18 overs was 153-4 in 18 overs and it looked like the island nation might get a score in excess of 175+, but Bangladesh pulled the thing back against all odds, which changed the fortunes of the game massively.
In the 19th over, Charith Asalanka was run out, and later in the over, Kamindu Mendis was duped. Mustafizur Rahman got another wicket in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga as only 5 runs were scored in that over & the speedster had a remarkable bowling figure where he took 3 scalps and conceded only 20 runs in his 4-over spell.
Dasun Shanaka tried his best and hit 2 boundaries in the last over and put the score to 168-7. Dasun Shanaka scored 64 runs in 37 balls & he fought alone that battle as the middle order batter had a rare failure. Sri Lanka struck a total of 11 sixes in the match. In the last 5 overs, the island nation scored 53 runs & lost 3 wickets.
Who’s winning, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh?
Sri Lanka would be slightly dejected given how the surface panned out post 6 overs. Though Charith Asalanka’s brigade has a world-class spin bowling unit in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga & Dunith Wellalage, who can dethrone Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi Tigers would be well aware of aware that they have a strong chance to chase down the target. The required run rate is not daunting, but if Bangladesh have wickets in hands, then they most likely will win the match. Bangladesh, though, seems to be quite slight favorite to win this contest.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Can Sri Lanka Continue Winning Run Against Bangladesh