Wanindu Hasaranga made a grand comeback to international cricket as his 2/25 went in a long way in restricting Bangladesh to 139/5 in 20 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga looked a determined man and looked to have control of the proceedings. With more luck, he could have taken more wickets. The others Chameera and Thushara chipped in as they kept Bangladesh down to 139/5.
Bangladesh got there from 53/5 thanks to Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain’s unbeaten 41 and 42 respectively as the duo rescued Bangladesh from the aforementioned score in 9.5 overs to get to this final total with the last 4 overs going for 39 runs. Bangladesh have something to bowl at, but not sure whether this will be enough to defend the score.
Sri Lanka strike thrice to leave Bangladesh reeling at 30/3 after powerplay
Put into bat first, Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon came out to bat for Bangladesh while Nuwan Thushara had ball in hand for Sri Lanka. Thushara began really well getting rid of Tanzid for a duck and bowling a wicket maiden to kick things off. He bowled a full and swinging ball into the off-stump, Tanzid was under a lot of pressure playing five dots and went for a release shot. It was an ugly looking shot whip across the line and missed on the inside edge by some margin. The ball sneaks through to clatter the off-stump. Captain Litton Das came out to bat next.
Dushmantha Chameera had the ball from the other end and he got rid of Emon for a duck. It was a short of a good length in the off-stump channel angling across with extra bounce off the surface for the bowler. Emon pushed at it without moving his feet and got an outside edge that got into the hands of the keeper. Towhid Hridoy came out to bat next. Thushara bowled another tidy over.
Hridoy got 3 runs off Chameera to get himself going. Hridoy was then given a reprieve when Charith Asalanka dropped him at mid-off as a sitter was put down. But it did not prove to be costly at all as in the next ball, Hridoy was run out while trying to take the third run as Kamil Mishara with a direct hit at the non-striker’s end caught Hridoy short of his ground for 8 off 9 balls. Mahedi Hasan came out to bat next.
Mahedi got himself off the mark with a boundary through a low full toss as he drove past diving mid-off to his left for a boundary. Dasun Shanaka came into the attack to bowl the final over of powerplay. Litton Das took on Shanaka and hit him for a boundary first over mid-on and then got it past the point region for a boundary. The last ball of the powerplay was guided past short third man for a boundary to end the powerplay. Bangladesh were 30/3 after 6 overs.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s double strike dents Bangladesh as they get to 93/5 in 15 overs
Matheesha Pathirana came into the attack post the powerplay. He bowled a decent over to start his spell. Wanindu Hasaranga came into the attack next and got rid of Mahedi Hasan for 9 off 7 balls with a boundary to his name. Hasaranga bowled a googly full spinning into the off-stump line. Mahedi was forward and looked to defend but did not pick the variation and played down the wrong line and got beaten on the inside edge. The ball hits the front pad and the umpire gave it out. Mahedi had a chat with his partner Litton and did not go upstairs.
Jaker Ali came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway. Das was adjudged LBW to Hasaranga but he reviewed it straightaway and got the decision overturned as there was an inside edge onto the pads. Litton then swept Hasaranga past backward square leg for a boundary. Shanaka bowled a decent over as Bangladesh reached 50/4 in 9 overs. Jaker survived a scare off Hasaranga as the ball hit the off-stump but the bail did not dislodge from the groove. But Hasaranga had his man dismissing Litton Das for 28 off 26 balls with 4 fours to his name.
Wanindu Hasaranga bowled a full ball leg spinner pitching around the leg stump, Litton went for the reverse sweep and went through the stroke a bit too early. The ball missed the outside edge and hit the gloves and lobbed up to the keeper’s left. Kusal Mendis took it really well and the replays showed he got glove to it. Shamim Hossain came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway as Bangladesh reached 54/5 after 10 overs at the halfway stage of the innings.
Jaker managed to get a boundary via a top edge over the keeper. Charith Asalanka came onto the attack and bowled a decent over. Matheesha Pathirana came back into the attack as Shamim Hossain pulled him away between deep backward square and deep midwicket for a boundary. Shamim survived a run out scare by diving at the keeper’s end as brilliant work from Kusal Mendis the keeper couldn’t break the partnership.
Hasaranga returned to the attack as Shamim took him on by sweeping it hard to the left of deep square leg for a boundary as the ball raced away to the fence in no time. Pathirana came to bowl the 15th over as Hossain got down on one knee and lofted it over mid-off for one bounce and over the ropes. Singles came off the next three balls as Bangladesh reached 93/5 in 15 overs with the death overs remaining to come.
Late Flourish from Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali Takes Bangladesh to 139/5
Wanindu Hasaranga came back to bowl his final over and bowled a decent over as Bangladesh brought up their 100 in 16 overs. Nuwan Thushara returned and bowled a decent over even as the 50-run stand came up between Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain. Chameera returned and bowled another decent over. Shamim then took on Pathirana and lofted him over deep midwicket for the maximum. Loads of wides were delivered by Pathirana and runs came in singles as 18 runs came off the 19th over.
Dushmantha Chameera came to bowl the final over of the innings and nailed his yorkers and good lengths. Jaker Ali managed to smash over extra covers for a boundary as the full ball was disposed off by the batter. The last ball yielded only a single as Bangladesh finished with 139/5 in 20 overs. 11 extras given by the fielding side.
Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with figures of 2/25 in 4 overs. Nuwan Thushara bowled well for his 1/17 in 4 overs. Dushmantha Chameera finished with 1/17 in 4 overs. Dasun Shanaka gave away 27 runs in 3 overs. Matheesha Pathirana gave away 42 runs in 4 overs. Charith Asalanka bowled an over for 6 runs. This means that Sri Lanka needs 140 runs off 20 overs to make a winning start to Asia Cup 2025.
What Lies Ahead
So, Bangladesh fought back from a precarious position and got themselves to 139/5 in 20 overs. It’s a good, defendable score but not necessarily a winning score. Sri Lanka will fancy chasing 140 on this pitch. So, at the break, Sri Lanka will be the happier side at this stage. Can Bangladesh spring a surprise in the second half? Only time will tell.
Let us see what pans out in the chase soon.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Salman Ali Agha’s Questionable Mindset